Relation of psychosocial stress, eye strain, and critical flicker fusion of VDT workers

To clarify that the psychosocial factors affect the eye strain of the VDT workers, self-reporting questionnaire about eye strain, critical flicker fusion(CFF), and 12-item version of General Health Questionnaire(GHQ) were carried out to 13 female VDT workers who have done the electronic editing and 10 female controls who were nurses in one hospital. The sum of eye symptoms of VDT workers were significantly higher than controls, but CFF of both groups were not different. And the sum of eye symptoms and CFF were not correlated. High stress group(sum of GHQ > 3) shows significantly more eye symptoms than low stress group. This result suggest that the psychosocial factors could affect the eye strain of VDT workers.

The Effect of VDT Work on Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder / 대한산업의학회지

As use of the visual display terminal (VDT) is becoming more generalized as a result of office automation, the so-called 'VDT syndrome' which is often observed with the workers using VDT has emerged as a serious occupational health problem. However, few comparative study with control group using not only subjective symptom but also physical examination hag been conducted. We have conducted a study comparing prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorder between 113 VDT operators of a telecommunication company and the control groups of housewives and office ladies through a review of subjective symptoms as well as physical examination by physiatrist to understand the magnitude of problem and relative risk of VDT worker. The symptom rates of upper extremity disability in VDT operators were higher than those of controls especially in neck and shoulder area. Fifty-four(47.8%) of 113 VDT operators met our case definition of upper extremity disorder by subjective symptom and physical examination. Myofascial pain syndrome of neck and shoulder muscles were the most common(46.9%). The odd ratio of using VDT operation for developing myofascial pain syndrome in the neck or shoulder area were 2.52(compared to controls of office ladies) and 2.64 (compared to controls of housewives). Other anatomical lesion such as elbow, hand and wrist shows slight higher prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorder than control groups but not statistically significant.

A study of subjective symptoms and life styles among long term computer users

BACKGROUND: The effect of Video Display Terminals(VDT) Syndrome is well documented. The purpose of this study is to examine the difference in systemic subjective symptoms between long term users of computers with that of the general population and to help plan to avoid the risk of developing Video Display Terminal Syndrome. METHOD: Data was collected for this study between August 1996 and February 1997. Two groups consisting of seventy(70) long term computer users(Exposed Subjects) and fifty nine(59) non users (Non Exposed Subjects), were selected for the survey. Data was gathered from the exposed subjects through their response to the survey questionnaire posted on the internet requiring detailed responses concerning ten systemic subjective symptoms that were experienced as a result of the long term exposure to VDT. Data was gathered from the non exposed subjects through written responses to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the more significant difference was the experience of ocular symptoms among the exposed group. The exposed group experienced in descending order eleven items of ocular symptoms. Congestion, strain, decreased visual acuity, ocular pain, and dryness. Among seven items of lifestyle, the exposed group characteristically exercised less(P<0.05) and did more home activity (P<0.05), characteristically lead healthier life than the non exposed group. Participation in exercise differed most among the groups. The exposed group participating in moderate exercise scored 517+/-551.6 compared to the non exposed group which exercised very vigorously(p<0.05). In comparison of subjective symptom and life styles per daily exposure time(over 8,10,16 hours daily) there was significant difference between 8 and 10hour exposers only in the stress item(P<0.05). In the exposure group there were less cardiovascular symptoms(P<0.05) due to more art activity(P<0.05), more cardiovascular symptoms and less sleep activity(P<0.001) and more ocular symptoms(P<0.05) due to higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: By exercising, exposers can decrease the respiratory symptoms, and by seeking methods that enable efficient management of work time, the subjects can benefit from the reduced work time, and by seeking methods so that one receive less stress and can resolve them they can reduce their ocular symptoms, sleep problems, cardiovascular symptoms. And in their spare time, the subjects can be recommended to involve in art activity for each person, through PC indirectly. Designing the development of cyber gallery, museum, literature room, concert can reduce the oecur-rence rate of cardiovascular symptoms.

The Investigeation of the Influneces of Ocular Symptoms on Environmetal Factors of VDT Workers

VDT syndrome is the disease entity that affects many workers on the various visual function as well as on some general health conditions including neurologic, circulatory and musculoskeletal system and it tends to increase day by day. We performed a series of investigation to evaluate the influences of VDT work on the subjective symptoms by means of questionnaire application with the control of non-VDT workers. It revealed that the susceptibility in occurrence of impairment of ocular functions like asthenopia as well as the disturbances of musculoskeletal circulatory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems were more pronounced in the VDT workers' group than the control group, and the environmental factors like working hours, air pollution, and noise also contributed for the worsening of the ocular and systemic symptoms. It is suggested that the improvement of operating environment by the implementation of comprehensive epidemiological study in association with the improvemental task of working situations and working times in long term advocated would decrease the VDT syndrome among VDT workers.

A study on the factors afecting the subjective symptoms of VDT syndrome / 예방의학회지

In order to develop the measuring tool of VDT syndrome and investigate the variables affecting the development of VDT syndrome, a questionnaire study accompanied with the evaluation of working environment was performed with 138 VDT users from six public organs in Kwangju area. The result were summarized as follows: 1. As a result of analysis with data collected by newly developed questionnaire, VDT syndrome included five factors named as eye-related component, psychological component, general body component, musculoskeletal component, and skin-related component and the estimates of the internal consistency of five factors were 0.877, 0.820, 0.796, 0.791, 0.593 respectively. 2. Variables affecting the level of eye-related symptoms were the type of main job using VDT, the total time of VDT operation per day, and the use of external filter on CRT. 3. The level of eye-related symptoms in the group using external filter was higher significantly than that in the group not using filter. 4. The past history of severe illness affected the level of psychological symptoms significantly. 5. Variables affecting the level of general body symptoms were job satisfaction and income satisfaction. 6. Variables affecting the level of musculoskeletal symptoms were the type of main job using VDT, whether majored in EDPS, the level of typewriting, job satisfaction, and the total time of VDT, operation per day. 7. Age and the use of external filter were significantly related to the level of skin-related symptoms. 7. Age and the use of external filter were significantly related to the level of skin-related symptoms.

The Investigation of the Changes of Ocular Function in VDT Workers

VDT syndrome has been understood as the outocme of the computerized socio-economic cultures in this modern age. It affects many workers on larious visual functions as well as affecting some general health conditions including neurologic, circulatory, and musculosckeletal system. We conducted series of investigations to evaluate the influence of VDT work on the physiologic functions using objective ocular examinations on VDT workers with non-VDT workers as controls. Prolongation of near point decreased accommodation amplitude, myopic shift of refractive condition, and decreased amout of tear formation were significantly indicative in the VDT workers' group. The above functional disturbances can significahtly, deteriorate not only working effeciency but general physical condition if appropriate measures are not provided quickly. Therefore, it is firmly suggested that a comprehensive epidemiological study should be implemented aimed at ImprovIng working situations for VDT workers.