Effects of Labor Intensity and Fatigue on Sleep Quality of Clinical Nurses / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of labor intensity and fatigue on the sleep quality of clinical nurses and provide basic data for preparation of nursing interventions to improve sleep quality. METHODS: Data were collected from 198 nurses in 2 general hospitals with more than 500 beds in D-city. Data analysis was performed using stepwise regression with the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. RESULTS: The significant factors influencing sleep quality of the clinical nurses were fatigue, absolute labor intensity, and shift type. Explanatory power was 66% in the regression model. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that nurses with higher level of fatigue, and greater absolute labor intensity which implies extended work hours, had lower sleep quality for all the three shifts. To improve the sleep quality of clinical nurses, an intervention program for fatigue management is needed. In addition, hospitals should establish an internal legal standard to compensate overtime work with breaks. At the same time, as shift work is inevitable for nurses, it is necessary to develop a work system that can minimize the disturbance of daily rhythms.

The Relationship between Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Job Stress & Intensity of Labor among Shipbuilding Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reveal the multiple factors that are related to the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) of shipbuilding workers, and to elucidate the relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and factors such as the change of working conditions, job stress and physical workload. METHODS: The study sample comprised 1,059 shipbuilding workers. A structured-questionnaire was used to assess the general characteristics, job stress, psychosocial well-being index (PWI), physical workload, change of working conditions and information concerning musculoskeletal symptoms. We estimated the relations of job stress, physical workload and intensity of labour to musculoskeletal symptoms using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The symptom prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in any part of the body was 89.5% by 'criteria 1'in the order of back (58.6%) and shoulder (56.3%). After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, posture factor (Odds ratio [OR]=1.06, 95% confidence interval [ C I ] = 1 . 0 0~1.12), non-posture factor (OR=1.17, CI=1.05~1.31), Borg scale (OR=1.15, C I = 1 . 0 0~1.32), relative work intensity increase (OR=1.92, CI=1.08~3.41), labor flexibility increase (OR=2.04, CI=1.04~4.01), high job demand (OR=2.68, CI=1.48~4.88), and high risk stress group (OR=13.50, CI=3.15~57.97) were all found to be significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that WMSDs have multiple risk factors such as stress, physical workload and change of working conditions. High job demand, increased relative intensification of work and increased flexibility, especially such as subcontract, outsourcing and importing of contingent work, were very important factors associated with increasing WMSDs.