Prevalence and Risk Factors of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Diseases among Farmers in Gyeongnam

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of upper extremity musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) among Korean farmers. METHODS: The study was carried out from June 2013 to August 2015 on 850 farmers and 203 non-farmers (controls) in Gyeongnam Province. Physical examinations were performed by rheumatologists, orthopedists, and rehabilitation specialists. Plain radiography, a nerve conduction examination, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used to assess upper extremity function. RESULTS: Thirty-four different types of upper extremity MSDs were detected in the 1,053 study subjects. The prevalence of any MSD in farmers was 8.96-fold higher than in control (p<0.001). The most obvious difference in prevalence between farmers and non-farmers was hand osteoarthritis (48.2% vs. 4.9%). Mean total DASH score was higher for farmers than non-farmers (14.29+/-13.66 vs. 10.03+/-10.85, p<0.001). Among farmers, myofascial pain syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and epicondylitis were more prevalent among overhead workers (growing persimmons, pears, and grapes) than in non-overhead workers (growing rice and upland crops). The following factors were associated with a rotator cuff tear; older age, overhead work, high waist circumference, and lower level of education. Hand osteoarthritis was found to be associated with older age, a female gender, high waist circumference, and longer total work time. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of upper extremity MSDs is much higher in farmers than non-farmers and greater still for farmers doing overhead work. Various factors contribute to the occurrence of upper extremity MSDs, and thus, the authors suggest an efficient preventive strategy, which involves consideration of type of work and risk factors, be established for farmers to reduce upper extremity MSDs.

The Association of Trust, Social Participation with Self-Rated Health Status: Mediating Effect of Depression / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between individual-level social capital and depression. And, we assessed if depressive symptom mediates the relationship between social capital and self-rated health status. METHODS: Data from the 2011 Community Health Survey were analyzed for this study. We used chi-square tests and analyzed a four step approach in which several regression analyses were conducted and significance of the coefficients was examined at each step. RESULTS: In men, the results of controlling mediating factor (depression): social participation was not significantly associated with self-rated health status(p=0.082), the finding supports that social participation was fully mediated by depression. In women, the relationship between social capital(trust, social participation) and self-rated health status was partially mediated by depression. CONCLUSIONS: In order to increase self rated health status, not only improvement in trust and social participation are needed but effort to reduce depression must be combined.