Cross Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Associated Factors among Elementary School Students Living nearby Shihwa-Banwol Industrial Complex / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as well as the relationship between ADHD and related factors among elementary school students living nearby Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 573 elementary students living nearby Shihwa-Banwol industrial complex. Dupaul ADHD rating scales were used for assessment of ADHD. Information on age, gender, birth weight, family history, environmental factors including second-hand smoke, house income, house type, bring up a child, road proximity and behavioral factors including outside activity time, eating habits, and cell phone usage were based on data from self-administered questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, and all odds ratios were adjusted according to age and gender. RESULTS: The prevalence of ADHD was 9.4%, and those aged 10 years were the most affected. Male elementary school students were 3.19 times (95% CI:1.71~5.93) more likely to have ADHD than females. ADHD was significantly associated with family history of mental disease (adjusted OR 8.69; 95%CI 1.93~39.22), lack of cell phones usage (adjusted OR 2.27; 95%CI 1.21~4.26), a road adjacent to child's residence (adjusted OR 2.21; 95%CI 1.20~4.05) and lack of seafood consumption (adjusted OR 2.08; 95%CI 1.08~4.00). CONCLUSIONS: More research effort should be focused on determining the prevalence of ADHD and relevant factors among children living nearby industrial complexes.

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 Case of Occupational Asthma and Rhinitis Suspected to be Caused by Exposure to Ethyl Cyanoacrylate / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND: Ethyl cyanoacrylate is used as a component of adhesives used in the industrial, domestic, and medical fields. It is known to cause mucosal irritation, contact dermatitis and respiratory discomfort. However, reports of combined occupational asthma and rhinitis are rare, especially in Korea. We report a case of occupational asthma and rhinitis suspected to be caused by exposure to ethyl cyanoacrylate. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman presented with rhinorrhea, cough, dyspnea and chest discomfort after exposure to ethyl cyanoacrylate adhesive at an assembly area of a plastic products manufacturing company. Nasal endoscopy revealed watery rhinorrhea and hypertrophy of nasal turbinates, which were compatible with rhinitis. The methacholine provocation test showed a positive result. Daily variability of peak expiratory flow increased on work days, but decreased during non-work days. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this case as a combination of occupational asthma and rhinitis suspected to be caused by exposure to ethyl cyanoacrylate. CONCLUSION: There needs to be increased awareness regarding occupational asth-ma and rhinitis caused by exposure to ethyl cyanoacrylate.

Estimated Number of Korean Workers with Back Pain and Population-based Associated Factors of Back Pain: Data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the number of Korean workers with back pain and evaluated the populationbased factors associated with back pain from a representative sample. METHODS: The number of Korean workers who experienced back pain (back pain-experienced patients), those who had experienced back pain lasting for three or more months during the previous year (chronic patients), and those who were currently suffering from back pain (current patients) were estimated by analyzing the data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2007 using the surveyfreq procedure of the SAS statistical package. Population-based odds ratios for being back pain-experienced, chronic, and current patient according to demographic (age, gender, and education), lifestyle (smoking, drinking, and exercise), and occupational (industrial class, employment status, occupation) factors were estimated using the surveylogistic procedure. RESULTS: Among 19,076,186 Korean workers aged 20~69 years in 2007, 2,473,997(proportion, 13.0%; 95% CI, 1,976,779~2,971,216) were estimated to be back pain-experienced patients, 692,046(3.6%; 417,726~966,366) chronic patients, and 1,206,704(6.3%; 893,475~1,519,933) current patients. Each of the explanatory variables was significantly associated with at least one of the response variables for back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Further efforts to investigate the epidemiology of back pain, evaluate the associated factors, and improve treatment outcomes are needed.