Factors Related to Smoking Status Among Young Adults: An Analysis of Younger and Older Young Adults in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#Young adulthood represents a critical developmental period during which the use of tobacco may begin or cease. Furthermore, differences in smoking behaviors between younger (aged 18-24 years) and older (aged 25-34 years) young adults may exist. This study aimed to characterize patterns related to current smoking in younger and older young adults.@*METHODS@#This study used data acquired from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2013 to 2014. A total of 2069 subjects were categorized as younger (712 subjects) and older (1357 subjects) young adults. The chi-square test was used to assess the relationships between smoking status and socio-demographic, health-related, and smoking-related factors. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the factors affecting current smoking in these age groups.@*RESULTS@#The current smoking prevalence was 18.3% among the younger young adults and 26.0% among the older young adults. Sex, education level, occupation, perceived health status, alcohol consumption, and electronic cigarette use were related to current smoking in both age groups. Secondhand smoke exposure at home and stress levels showed significant relationships with smoking in younger and older young adults, respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Strong correlations were found between the observed variables and smoking behaviors among young adults. Determining the factors affecting smoking and designing interventions based on these factors are essential for smoking cessation in young adults.

Factors Related to Smoking Status Among Young Adults: An Analysis of Younger and Older Young Adults in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Young adulthood represents a critical developmental period during which the use of tobacco may begin or cease. Furthermore, differences in smoking behaviors between younger (aged 18-24 years) and older (aged 25-34 years) young adults may exist. This study aimed to characterize patterns related to current smoking in younger and older young adults. METHODS: This study used data acquired from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2013 to 2014. A total of 2069 subjects were categorized as younger (712 subjects) and older (1357 subjects) young adults. The chi-square test was used to assess the relationships between smoking status and socio-demographic, health-related, and smoking-related factors. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the factors affecting current smoking in these age groups. RESULTS: The current smoking prevalence was 18.3% among the younger young adults and 26.0% among the older young adults. Sex, education level, occupation, perceived health status, alcohol consumption, and electronic cigarette use were related to current smoking in both age groups. Secondhand smoke exposure at home and stress levels showed significant relationships with smoking in younger and older young adults, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Strong correlations were found between the observed variables and smoking behaviors among young adults. Determining the factors affecting smoking and designing interventions based on these factors are essential for smoking cessation in young adults.

Reliability and validity of the Korean version of organizational justice questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Many studies show that organizational justice (OJ) is related to psychological determinants of employee health. To prevent health problems related to OJ in Korean workplaces and to accurately measure OJ, we developed the Korean version of the Organizational Justice Questionnaire (K-OJQ) and assessed its validity and reliability. METHODS: A questionnaire draft of the K-OJQ was developed using back-translation methods, which was preliminary tested by 32 employees in Korea. Feedback was received and the K-OJQ was finalized. This study used data from 303 workers (172 males, 131 females) in Korea using the K-OJQ, job stress, and lifestyle questionnaires. RESULTS: Cronbach’s α coefficients of the internal consistency reliability was 0.92 for procedural justice and 0.94 for interactional justice. Factor analyses using SPSS 24 and Amos 23 extracted two expected factors, named procedural justice (7 items; range, 1.0–5.0) and interactional justice (6 items; range, 1.0–5.0) and showed a reliable fit (χ2 = 182; p = .000; GFI = .912; AGFI = .877; CFI = .965; RMSEA = .077). Furthermore, higher procedural justice and interactional justice levels were correlated with lower job demand (− 0.33; − 0.36), insufficient job control (− 0.36; − 0.41), interpersonal conflict (− 0.45; − 0.51), job insecurity (− 0.33; − 0.34), organizational system (− 0.64; − 0.64), and lack of reward (− 0.55; − 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: The K-OJQ was objectively validated through statistical methods. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s40557-018-0238-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms with Periodontal Disease in Korean Women / 치위생과학회지

Periodontal diseases occur from the interplay between increased bacterial response and the response of the host immune system over time. Anxiety and depression can impair immunological defense mechanisms, causing accumulation of periodontopathogens and thus exacerbating periodontal disease. We investigated the relationship of anxiety and depression to periodontal diseases in Korean women. In this study, 3,551 women aged ≥19 years were evaluated based on data from the first year (2010) of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analysis of the factors that caused periodontal diseases revealed that dental floss or interdental toothbrush nonuse behaviors have been shown to increase the risk of periodontal disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14~1.95). After adjusting for conditions such as age, marital status, income, educational level, economic activity, diabetes mellitus, smoking, drinking, and frequencies of toothbrushing and interdental cleaning, we found that anxiety and depression increased the risk of developing periodontal diseases (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.04~2.09). People with anxiety and depression have a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases than people without anxiety and depression. Thus, periodic periodontal care and effective self-care education are needed to manage periodontal diseases.

Characteristic Risk Factors Associated with Planned versus Impulsive Suicide Attempters

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate predictors for planned suicide attempters. METHODS: This study included 1,003 patients who attempted suicide and visited emergency department. They were divided into two groups, planned suicide attempters (SAs; n=133 [13.3%]) and impulsive SAs (n=870, [86.7%]), and the demographic variables, clinical characteristics, factors related to suicide, and psychiatric resources of the groups were compared. RESULTS: Major depressive disorder and substance use disorders were more common among planned SAs than among impulsive SAs. Additionally, the planned SAs were older, more likely to be divorced, separated or widowed, and more likely to have comorbid medical illnesses, severe depression, higher suicidality, and self-blaming tendencies than the impulsive SAs. Financial problems and physical illnesses were more common in planned SAs but interpersonal conflicts were more frequent in impulsive SAs. Planned SAs had fewer previous suicide attempts but these were more serious suicide attempts. The presence of the hope to die, a written will, and suicidal ideation of a repetitive, intense, and continuous nature were predictive of planned SAs. CONCLUSION: The present findings demonstrated that planned SAs had more severe psychopathology and medical illnesses than impulsive SAs. Therefore, screening for depression, substance use disorders, and suicidal plans among old and medically ill patients may be important for preventing suicide attempts.

Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and Related Medical Costs by the Scale of Enterprise in Korea

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) and to analyze the relationship between the risk factors of MS and medical cost of major diseases related to MS in Korean workers, according to the scale of the enterprise. METHODS: Data was obtained from annual physical examinations, health insurance qualification and premiums, and health insurance benefits of 4,094,217 male and female workers who underwent medical examinations provided by the National Health Insurance Corporation in 2009. Logistic regression analyses were used to the identify risk factors of MS and multiple regression was used to find factors associated with medical expenditures due to major diseases related to MS. RESULT: The study found that low-income workers were more likely to work in small-scale enterprises. The prevalence rate of MS in males and females, respectively, was 17.2% and 9.4% in small-scale enterprises, 15.9% and 8.9% in medium-scale enterprises, and 15.9% and 5.5% in large-scale enterprises. The risks of MS increased with age, lower income status, and smoking in small-scale enterprise workers. The medical costs increased in workers with old age and past smoking history. There was also a gender difference in the pattern of medical expenditures related to MS. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion programs to manage metabolic syndrome should be developed to focus on workers who smoke, drink, and do little exercise in small scale enterprises.

Moderate drinking and motivational enhancement therapy

Alcohol consumption rates of Korean men and women are 85.8% and 65.4%, respectively. In regard to the amount of drinking, the highest frequency in men, among 37.2%, was over 10 glasses and in women was 1-2 glasses (1 glass, 12-14 g of alcohol) per day. Moderate drinking was defined as 2 glasses per day for men and 1 glass per day for women. Drinking beyond the moderate level could be risky or problematic. Alcohol related problems such as liver disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, accidents, crimes, injuries, and social and family problems in Korea create a great socioeconomic burden and threaten public health. Evidence-based treatments for problematic drinking, such as brief intervention, behavior change counseling, and motivational enhancement interviewing or therapy, have been suggested. An especially effective method would be motivation enhancement treatment (MET) due to since it is a client-centered approach and enhances self-efficacy based decisional balance. The major techniques of MET are feedback, responsibility, advice about changing, menu of change options, empathic counseling, self efficacy. The success factors for MET are sit squarely, open posture, lean toward patient, eye contact, relax posture. However, scientific accumulation of research results on the benefit of counseling for problematic drinking in Korea is still insufficient to provide the evidence for above treatment techniques.

The Effectiveness of an Intervention Program for Subway Operators for Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder After the Persons Had Fallen Under a Train / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the level of job stress in subway workers and to determine the main factors that aggravated their PTSD(Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) symptom, which were due to having fallen under a train, and to verify the effectiveness of the intervention program. METHODS: The questionnaires utilized in the survey were composed of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (the short form, 24 items), the depression scale, the coping scale II, the PTSD scale and the life style, health status and occupational properties. The intervention program for PTSD symptoms was executed for 18 subway operators who had experienced deadly accidents in their service from June 2004 to May 2006. The intervention programs included exercise, meditation and deep breathing for 8 weeks and a written message was sent twice per week. RESULTS: Compared with pre-intervention, the post-intervention group showed significantly lower scores for the KOSS, depressive symptom and the PTSD. CONCLUSION: This study showed the intervention program was effective to lower the job stress, the PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms, and to improve the coping skills. It was suggested that the mental health promotion program should be implemented for subway workers to prevent occupational mental diseases.

Association of Subway Driver's Depressive Symptoms and Experience of Work-Related Problems / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Subway drivers experience various types of work-related problems during their driving, and those experiences can act as risk factors for depressive symptoms. This study was conducted to investigate the association between work-related problems and subway driver's depressive symptoms. METHODS: We recruited all of the 961 current subway drivers of a subway company located in Seoul, South Korea and conducted a survey of their socio-demographic and vocational characteristics, hospital visits as an outpatient or inpatient, and work-related problem experiences during the last year. Work-related problems included an accident resulting in death or injury, a conflict with a customer, a sudden stop from an emergency bell, or a near accident. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) instrument. The survey was performed using a self-report questionnaire from April 16 to July 13, 2007. The data of 827 drivers (86.2%) were analyzed. RESULTS: Experience of a conflict with a passenger (p=0.011), a sudden stop from an emergency bell (p=0.001), or a near accident (p=0.001) increased the prevalence of depressive symptoms among subway drivers. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that a sudden stop from an emergency bell increased the risk of depressive symptoms significantly (OR=2.59, p=0.026). Near accidents were marginally associated with a higher risk for depressive symptoms (OR=1.62, p=0.062). CONCLUSION: The experience of a sudden stop from an emergency bell increased subway driver's depressive symptoms, and near accidents may increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions for the drivers who had experienced these work-related problems are needed.

The Relation between Employees' Lifestyle and Their Health Status in an Electronics Research and Development Company / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND: An unhealthy lifestyle is the most important cause of lifestyle-induced illness (diabetes, hypertension, liver enzyme abnormality, dyslipidemia etc.). This study was carried out to evaluate that relation between employees' lifestyle and their health status in a Korean electronic research and development company. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. 3,041 consecutive workers in a Korean R&D company were enrolled in this study. A checkup list for the health examination (from the National Health Insurance Coperation), which contained the information on the lifestyle, and the results of the health examination, which contained information on the body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and liver function tests (LFT, AST, ALT, gamma-GTP) and cholesterol profiles (total cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL) were done for all the subjects. We evaluated the health profile as normal or abnormal. Statistical analysis of the health profiles and the lifestyle of the employees' was performing by using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of 'excessive alcohol drinking' was 52.9% (n=1,610), that for 'lack of exercise' was 86.2% (n=2,662), that for 'meat eating' 12.2% (n=370) and that for 'current smoker' was 31.3% (n=952). According to results of health examination, the prevalence of obesity was 27.1% (n=824), hypertension was 7.1% (n=215), diabetes was 1.0% (n=30), abnormal LFT was 15.4% (n=469) and dyslipidemia was 18.7% (n=569). On multiple logistic regression analysis of the health profile and lifestyle, 'meat eating' was related to obesity, hypertension, abnormal LFT (ALT, gamma-GTP), dyslipidemia (LDL). 'Excessive alcohol drinking' was related to obesity, hypertension, abnormal LFT (gamma-GTP). 'Lack of exercise' was related to dyslipidemia (HDL). 'Current smoker' was related to obesity, diabetes, abnormal LFT (ALT, gamma-GTP), and dyslipidemia (TG, HDL) with statistically significance. CONCLUSIONS: For workers in the R&D company, an unhealthy lifestyle (such as diet, alcohol drinking, lack of exercise and smoking) were related to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, abnormal LFT and dyslipidemia. Therefore health promotion is necessary for the young employees of an Korean R&D company.

The Relationship Between Job Stress and Quality of Life for Hospital Workers by Type of Employment / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between job stress and quality of life for hospital workers by type of employment. METHODS: Data were obtained for 361 workers in a large hospital 172 of whom were categorized as typical workers defined by permanent employee and 189 of whom were categorized as atypical workers defined by fixed-term contraction. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire RESULTS: Atypical workers had significantly higher scores for job-related stress in the domains of insufficient control, over work, job insecurity, and lack of reward in the workplace compared with typical workers, who had higher scores for stress in the domains of job demands and occupational climate. Test scores also indicated that typical workers had a significantly better quality of life than atypical workers, especially in terms of mental health, social relationships and environment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that factors contributing to job-related stress were different between typical and atypical hospital and typical workers are likely to have a better quality of life.

Association of Current and Past Smoking with Metabolic Syndrome in Men / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between past smoking and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2007, a total of 3,916 over thirty years old male health screen examinees were divided into the nonsmoking, smoking, ex-smoking groups. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the NCEP ATP (Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program). Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following: a blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg, a fasting glucose level > or = 110 mg/dL, a HDL-C (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) level or = 150 mg/dL and, a waist circumference men > or = 102 cm, but a waist to hip ratio > 0.90 was used as a surrogate for the waist circumference. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and, exercise in the smokers, for the ex-smokers compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio (OR) of a lower HDL cholesterol level (< 40 mg/dL) was 1.29 (95% CI=1.03-1.61) in the smokers, the ORs of a higher triglyceride level were 1.35 (95% CI=1.09-1.66) in the ex-smokers and, 2.12 (95% CI=1.75-2.57) in the smokers, and the OR of a waist to hip ratio was 1.25 (95% CI=1.03-1.52) in the ex-smokers. When there were over three components of metabolic syndrome in the ex-smokers and smokers as compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio against the risk of metabolic syndrome were 2.39 (95% CI=1.00-6.63) and 2.37 (95% CI=1.02-6.46), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that there is an association of smoking with metabolic syndrome in men.

Awareness and Attitude Toward Suicide in Community Mental Health Professionals and Hospital Workers / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate community mental health professionals and hospital workers attitude and awareness towards suicide. METHODS: This study investigated 264 community mental health professionals and 228 hospital workers. SOQs (Suicidal Opinion Questionnaires) were used from July 2007 to September 2007. After a factor analysis for the attitude towards suicide, the items on ethics, mental illness, religion, risk, and motivation were included in the subsequent analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the attitude towards suicide according to religion, age, educational background, the marriage status, the economic position, and different professional licenses. Hospital workers' view was different from the community workers'. The hospital workers judged that suicide was due to mental illness, and suicide was high for the people in a special environment and who lacked motivation, which caused them to fall in a dangerous situation. For the lower educational group, they thought that suicide was attributable to mental illness. The awareness for suicide was significantly higher in the group with a postgraduate education, unmarried people, mental health professionals and the persons who had concern and experience with suicide. The factors that had an influence on the awareness of suicide were the items of mental illness, religion, risk and motivational factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the factors to increase the awareness and attitude for suicide were the experience of increased education and case management of suicide. Therefore, education dealing with suicide and reinforcement of crisis management programs should be developed.

The Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Health Checkup Examinees / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of nonalcoholic fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This study was conducted to investigate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors for adult men (n=2976) and women (n=2442) who were over 19 years old, after excluding the HBsAg(+) or anti-HCV(+) patients and the men and women with increased alcohol intake (men: 40 g/week, women: 20 g/week). RESULTS: Compared with the normal liver subjects, the nonalcoholic fatty liver subjects showed a significantly increased frequency of abnormal systolic blood pressure (> or =120 mmHg), fasting blood sugar (> or =100 mg/dL), total cholesterol (> or =200 mg/dL), triglyceride (> or =150 mg/dL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( or =130g m/dL) and abdominal obesity in men, and all these measures were significantly increased in the women except for abnormal HDL cholesterol. After adjusting for the body mass index, age, smoking, exercise and a nonalcoholic liver, the odds ratios of an abnormal waist hip ratio were 1.35(95% Confidence Interval=1.05-4.72) in the mild fatty liver, 1.61(1.19-2.18) in the moderate fatty liver, 2.77(1.57-4.92) in the severe fatty liver compared with a normal liver. The adjusted odds ratios for abnormal fasting blood sugar were 1.26(1.03-1.53) in the mild fatty liver, 1.62(1.27-2.06) in the moderate fatty lliver and 1.77(1.12-2.78) in the severe fatty liver. The adjusted odds ratios for abnormal triglyceride were 1.38(1.11-1.72) in the mild fatty liver, 1.73(0.33-2.24) in the moderate fatty liver and 1.91(1.17-3.10) in the severe fatty liver of men. Adjusted odds ratios for abnormal triglyceride were 1.50(1.04-2.15) in mild, 1.71(1.07-2.68) in moderate, 1.81(0.69-4.38) in severe fatty liver of women. CONCLUSIONS: The nonalcoholic fatty liver subjects had more cardiovascular risk factors compared with the normal liver subjects. Thus, prevention and treatment of the nonalcoholic fatty liver is necessary by lifestyle modifications such as restriction of alcohol intake, no smoking, exercise and adequate eating habits.

The Change of Non-smoking Knowledge and Attitude of Intensive Course of Anti-smoking Leadership Training / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an anti-smoking readership training program on the knowledge, attitude and practice in health managers and supervisors in the workplace. METHODS: We surveyed 482 health managers and supervisors in the workplace from April 2005 to September 2005. The questionnaire included whether or not a smoking cessation program was conducted in their workplace. We assessed before and after educations program about knowledge, attitude and practice for smoking cessation. The 10-hour education program included the benefit of quit smoking, the law for smoking restriction, cognitive therapy, stress management, nicotine addiction, replacement therapy, case study about workplace for anti-smoking policy and program. RESULTS: For the change in the mean scores of all items in knowledge, attitude and practice were significantly increased after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Even a short, 10-hour intervention course of anti-smoking leadership training program was effective for improving the knowledge, attitude, practice to quit smoking activity in workplace. Nevertheless, the program effectiveness would be increased by including a re-training course and website support.

Effectiveness of Tailored Health Promotion Program for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Subway Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study explores the effects of a tailored health promotion program, in order to reduce cardiovascular risk, in areas which include hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal blood glucose and body mass index. METHODS: In this paper, health risk appraisal relating to lifestyle was surveyed and physical fitness, blood pressure and blood lipid profile and glucose were checked. Then, a 12 week tailored health promotion program with 40 subway workers of Seoul was conducted. The Tailored health promotion program included a smoking cessation program, drinking restriction, diet, exercise prescription and a stress management program. RESULTS: The number of subjects engaging in regular exercise increased from 42.5% to 100%, and the number of smokers reduced from 72.5% to 60%, and 12.5% of contemplate stage was shift to action stage. The mean level of drinking per day, significantly decreased from 34.9 g to 24.2. The body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and Fasting blood glucose significantly decreased after the intervention program. In addition the tailored health promotion program resulted in a significant reduction in two factors for the cardiovascular high risk group, hypertension above 140 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and dyslipidemia above 200 mg/dl in triglyceride. CONCLUSION: In this paper, it is demonstrated that the tailored health promotion program,, including the smoking cessation program, drinking restriction, diet, exercise prescription and stress management program, resulted in effective reduction in cardiovascular risk factor. Therefore associated workplace tailored health promotion programs relating to specific individual risk factor, should be developed and implemented.

Selection of a High Risk Group and the Effectiveness of an Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to provide data for the establishment of a practical and the effective exercise program for managing the musculoskeletal symptoms of workers who are employed in small and medium sized enterprises. METHODS: The risk factors related to musculoskeletal disease management were chosen according to the relevant literatures, and were based on advise from experts on the Delphi method. Questionnaires on selected risk factors (with a 5-point Likert scale) were given to 785 subjects who worked in small and medium sized enterprises. The subjects were then classified in the risk group when they had the symptoms and recorded at least 3 points. From those subjects in the risk group, those who had both work-related factors and general characteristics factors (with an average of at least 3 points) were further classified as the high risk group. We performed a 12-week musculoskeletal exercise program for the low and high risk groups to analyze their changes in symptoms and complaints in order to estimate the effectiveness of the exercise program. RESULTS: Out of 785 subjects, 454(57.8%) were in the risk group of musculoskeletal diseases and 121(15.4%) were in the high risk group. According to multiple logistic regression analysis of the factors for the musculoskeletal symptoms in the low risk group, the significant risk factors were sex and personal disease related with musculoskeletal disease, while the risk factors in the high risk group were age, sex, and personal disease related with musculoskeletal disease. After the 12-week exercise program was performed by the low risk group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints in the control group did not significantly changed, whereas for the intervention group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints significantly declined for all parts of the body. After the 12-week exercise program performed by the high risk group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints in the control group was significantly enhanced for the arm and elbow parts. In the intervention group, the complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms significantly declined only for the low back. CONCLUSION: The musculoskeletal symptoms were significantly improved by the exercise program in the low risk group, but not in the high risk group. It is suggested that control measures on administrative and/or work related factors, in addition to the exercise program should be considered simultaneously for the control of musculoskeletal symptoms in groups at high risk of musculoskeletal disease.

Effects of the Workers' Recognition of the Restructuring to Their Psychosocial Well-being / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of recognition on the restructuring of the psychosocial well-being of the workers. METHODS: 302 employees were recruited by a stratified random sampling method, from a company located in Seoul, which undergoing an administrative evaluation, in 2001. Subjects were asked to fill out questionnaire sheet on their recognition of the restructuring, and were questions on their psychosocial well-being. A one-way ANOVA and a multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: For the psychological well-being, the levels of social performance and self-confidence were significantly different relation to age, educational attainment, marital status, insecurity recogni-tion, and competency recognition. According to the result of the multiple regression analysis, the insecurity recognition was found to significantly affect the social performance and self-confidence, depression, sleep disturbance and anx-iety, general well-being and vitality, whereas the competency recognition affected the social perfor-mance and self-confidence, sleep disturbance and anxiety, and overall psychosocial well-being. CONCLUSION: The insecurity and competency recognitions against the restructuring were found to be the major factors affecting the workers psychosocial well-being. It is suggested that a decreased worker's insecurity recognition of the restructuring, and the competency recognition for the workers psychosocial health needs require promoting.

Health Behavior Practices and Needs for Health Promotion Program According to Shift Work Pattern in Subway Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To determine the health behavior practices and needs for health promotion in shift work pattern in subway workers. METHODS: Among 789 male subway workers divided into four groups, 191 day time workers, 187 station service men (3 groups, 2 turns), 204 rolling stock inspectors (3 groups, 2 turns) and 207 train operators (8 groups, 5 turns), we surveyed the health behavior and needs for health promotion by questionnaire. RESULTS: For obesity, blood pressure and total cholesterol, day time workers had the highest levels, while train operators had higher diseases of the liver and stomach than others. The station service men had the highest smoking rate and daily smoking amount. More than 80% of the respondents consumed alcohol, and the drinking amount was highest among the day time workers and the 8/5 shift train operators. Eighty-two percent of the station service men had irregular eating habits and 17.7% did not have any breakfast. In health promotion activities, exercise and restriction of one's favorite(smoking or drinking) were most preferred in the four groups of respondents. The priority of needs and participation for health promotion program was exercise programs, followed by stress management, cancer prevention program, weight control program, anti-smoking campaign, high blood pressure control program, and abstinence/moderation in drinking. CONCLUSION: As the health behavior practices differed relative to shift work patterns, it was suggested that a comprehensive health promotion program according to shift work pattern should be planned and implemented among subway workers.

Effects of Sociodemographic Factors on the Stage of Behavior Change Among Employees of Small to Medium Sized Enterprises / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This research attempts to investigate the relationship between health risk factors and workers'behavioral changes based on individual worker's characteristics to allow the development of more effective health promotion programs in businesses places. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 282 workers employed in small to medium sized enterprises in the Kyong-in area of Korea. The questionnaire was composed of general characteristics, a health risk assessment and an evaluation of the stage of behavior change for health promotion strategy in the workplace. RESULTS: The health risk assessment revealed that 65.7 % of male workers smoke, 70.5% of male workers do not exercise on a regular basis, 86.1 % of female workers do not exercise at all, and 78.6 % of male workers and 50 % of female workers drink alcohol. In addition, the survey identified that 29.5% of male workers are addicted to excessive drinking, as are 11.1% of female workers. Based on the four stages of behavioral changes that lead to health, the pre-contemplation stage, contemplation stage, action stage, and maintenance stage, 40.5 %, 23.7 %, 12.1 % and 23.7 % of workers are in these stages, respectively, with regards to quitting smoking. As for regular exercises, 18.4 %, 37.6 %, 17.7 %, and 26.3 % of workers belong to each stage, respectively. As for moderation in drinking, 20.9 %, 15.4 %, 10.0 %, and 53.7 % are in each stage, respectively. The rate of health managers in the active stage of quitting smoking is significantly higher than that of general workers. Among the workers who do not exercise on a regular basis, workers over 50 years-old and blue color workers are more common in the precontemplation stage than any other worker groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the stages of behavioral change vary with worker characteristics. An awareness of the effects of the high risk factors is essential for promoting workers'attendance in health promotion programs.