Regional Factors on the Self-rated Health of Wage Workers

PURPOSE: This study attempted to identify regional disparities of self-rated health among Korean wage workers and to investigate the influencing factors on them. METHODS: The study subjects were 25,069 workers in 16 regions who were extracted from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). A multilevel analysis was conducted by building hierarchical data at individual and regional level. RESULTS: In this study, ‘financial autonomy rate’ and ‘current smoking rate’ were identified as regional factors influencing the workers' self-rated health. When the socio-demographic and occupational factors of the workers were controlled, ‘current smoking rate’, a health policy factor, explained the regional disparity of workers' health status. CONCLUSION: We found that the health status of workers can be affected by the health behavior level of the whole population in their residential area. In order to improve the health status of working population and to alleviate their regional health inequalities, it is necessary to strengthen macro and structural level interventions.

The Association between Psychosocial Work Environment and Depressive Symptoms among Korean Teachers

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the association between psychosocial work environment and depressive symptoms among Korean teachers. METHODS: Data on 235 elementary school teachers and 341 middle and high school teachers was obtained from the 2014 Korean Working Condition Survey. The effect of psychosocial work environment on depressive symptoms was determined by multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18 % in elementary school teachers and 24 % in middle and high school teachers. When adjusted for demographics and other socio-psychological and environmental factors, ‘social community at work’ served as a protection factor for Korean teachers' depressive symptoms. In addition, ‘cognitive demands’ in elementary school teachers and ‘social support from supervisors’ in middle and high school teachers were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Interventions to increase ‘social community at work’ and ‘social support from supervisors’, and to decrease ‘cognitive demands’ may be helpful for Korean teachers at risk of depression.

Presenteeism in Clinical Nurses: An Integrative Literature Review / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This review aimed to integrate the results of studies related to presenteeism in clinical nurses and to suggest directions for future research. METHODS: The search for relevant studies was conducted using six data bases according to predetermined index terms, “nurs*” and “presenteeism.” Thirteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected and analyzed. RESULTS: This review found that the conceptual use and scope of presenteeism were not consistent among the studies. Most studies investigated the nurses' health-related variables as the most important factors and reported their positive association with presenteeism. Presenteeism was also found to be associated with job stress, job satisfaction, social support, and organizational culture and had a negative impact on nursing outcomes such as patient safety. CONCLUSION: The research on presenteeism can be used as a way to explain outcomes in the field of nursing where direct measurement of productivity is difficult. Presenteeism is a multidimensional problem, and a theoretical foundation is needed to explain the presenteeism of clinical nurses.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Patients Who Underwent Curative Additional Gastrectomy after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer or Adenoma / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely performed. However, procedure related-complications and the risk of tumor recurrence are limitations. We analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of patients who underwent curative additional gastrectomy (gastrectomy) after ESD. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of cases underwent gastrectomy after ESD were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Between January 2002 and August 2010, 1,512 cases underwent ESD for early gastric cancer (n=511) or adenoma (n=1,001). Thirty-two cases (2.1%) underwent gastrectomy after ESD. Thirty cases (2.0%) were EGC and 2 cases (0.1%) were adenoma. Extended indication, larger tumor size and piecemeal resection were risk factors for gastrectomy after ESD. According to the causes of gastrectomy, 13 cases underwent gastrectomy due to complications (40.6%; bleeding in 9, perforation in 4), and 19 cases based on pathological results (incomplete resection in 13, lymphatic invasion in 6). In cases with incomplete resection, the rate of residual tumor and lymph node metastasis after gastrectomy was 69.2% (75% lateral margin, 60% deep and 75% both) and 7.7%, respectively. Three (50%) of the 6 cases with lymphatic invasion had lymph node metatstasis. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of gastrectomy after ESD were the procedure-related complications, the incomplete resection and lymphatic invasion. For complete and curative ESD, endoscopists should try to minimize complications and determine the depth of invasion accurately before ESD.

Treatment Outcomes after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Large Superficial Rectosigmoid Colon Tumors / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of a colorectal tumor is technically difficult. This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of superficial large rectosigmoid tumors after ESD. METHODS: Medical records of 15 patients with large rectosigmoid tumors (more than 30 mm), in which ESD performed, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 42.5+/-14.3 mm (range, 30~78 mm). A histological examination revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in five cases (33.3%), adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in six cases (40%), and low-grade dysplasia in four cases (26.7%). The mean procedural time was 90.5+/-60.7 min (range, 22~246 min). The en bloc resection rate was 86.7%, and the complete resection rate 100%. The lateral resection margin was positive in four cases (26.6%), but no cases with a positive vertical margin were observed. Bleeding occurred in three cases (20%), and all were treated successfully using endoscopic measures. Perforations occurred in three cases (20%); two cases were treated by clipping and the other by a laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is a treatment option for superficial large rectosigmoid tumors. Further studies with larger cases and a longer term follow-up are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of ESD for colorectal tumors.