The Relationship between Sick Leave and Pilot's Depression & Anxiety Tendency Using BDI & STAI

BACKGROUND: It is known that depression and anxiety tendency causes physical or social dysfunction. Nowadays, the air travel is increasing as the life condition has been improved so the health of pilots who are in charge of passengers become a very important issue. However, few studies have been done on this issue, especially the relationship between depression & anxiety and medical diseases among them. This study was performed to know the factors affection pilots' sick leave and the correlation between depression & anxiety and sick leave. METHODS: Self administered questionaires were obtained from 123 pilots of one of the airline companies at Seoul from 1st April to 30th may 2003. Depression tendency was measured based upon BDI, the level of anxiety was measured by the standardised STAI and obesity was diagnosed if a BMI is over 25 kg/m2. The data on the subjects' age, position, airlines and the days of sick leave were obtained from personal record. RESULTS: All the study subjects were male with the average age of 40.23+/-7.48 (ranging from 30 to 60). The average age for those who had sick leave was 34.58+/-3.50 and that for those who had not was 40.48+/-7.55 and these two average ages showed difference with statistical significance (P value 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the average age of sick leave group was lower than that of non-sick leave group (P<0.001). The level of depression and anxiety were not related to the sick leave. The reasons for this seems to be the fact that pilots are healthier than general population and also they pay more attention to their own health. The younger pilots tended to have more days of sick leave, which might be explain that the older pilots were more cautious about the disadvantages of having sick leave but, the younger pilots tend to have strong individualistic personalities.

The Effect on Age, Body Weight, Height, Body Mass Index and Smoking to Coagulation Factor VII, VIII and Fibrinogen in Pilots

BACKGROUND: The pilots with cardiovascular events have a possibility for a risk of suffering from sudden incapacitation which is closely related to flying safety. The coagulation factors such as fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII are possibly related to cardiovascular events. Several studies for general population have shown that an increase of those coagulation factors with age, a correlation of Factor VII and fibrinogen with BMI, and of fibrinogen with smoking. However, this study is to find out whether pilots' age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and smoking are related to the baseline measurement of coagulation factor VII, factor VIII and fibrinogen. METHOD: Samples were taken from 21 pilots from Asiana Airlines: 11 smokers and 10 non-smokers. In order to measure the relationship between age, body weight, BMI, and the coagulation factors, Pearson correlation was used in this analysis. Independent two sampled t-test was used to analyze the correlation between smoking and the coagulation factors. RESULTS: Mean age, mean height, mean body weight and mean BMI of pilots were examined: 38 years, 171.81 cm, 70.67 Kg and 23.94 Kg/m(2). Mean fibrinogen, mean factor VII, and mean factor VIII were also obtained: 236.0 mg/dl, 92.93%, and 60.16%. The coagulation factor VII, factor VIII and fibrinogen were not significant related to age, body weight, BMI, smoking of pilots. CONCLUSION: This study has no correlation between age, body weight, BMI, smoking and the coagulation factors because the age of this study does not have pilots with over 60 years old and healthy behaviors (e.g., exercise, smoking, drinking, etc.) of most pilots are relatively well.

Relationship between Body Weight and Pulmonary Function in Pilots from a Airlines: The Comparison of Data from 1996 with 2002

BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other disorders. Several studies have shown that excess weight or weight gain was related to the decline of pulmonary function. This study is to find out whether pilot's age, height, body weight, body mass index(BMI) and smoking are related to the baseline measurement of pulmonary function in order to promote the healthy behavior of pilots. METHOD: The analysis was based on data from the annual physical examination of pilots which was conducted in one airlines company of Korea. This study compared the data obtained from 73 pilots in 1996 with the data in 2002. Pulmonary function(forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF)), age, height, body weight and body mass index were measured in both surveys. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to examine the relationship weight gain, smoking and pulmonary function. RESULTS: According to the data from 2002, mean age, mean height, mean body weight and mean BMI of pilots were examined: 47.62 years, 171.60 cm, 70.6 Kg and 24.03 Kg/m(2). Age was significantly related to FVC, FEV1 and MMEF. Height was significantly related to FVC and FEV1. However, body weight was significantly related to PEF and MMEF. The effect of smoking on pulmonary function was not significant. Pilots who gained body weight and BMI after 7 years were not related significantly to the pulmonary function. CONCLUSION: This study shows that age, height, weight are significantly related to pulmonary function. And other studies show that weight gain is significantly related to the decline of pulmonary function, but the relationship from this study is not significant because the number of sample is not enough and healthy behaviors of most pilots are relatively well.

The Health Promotion Behavior of Pilot and Ground Staff in A-Airlines

BACKGROUND: At present, there is close correlation between health status and lifestyle. Personal lifestyle has influence on health, disease, disorder and early death. Health promotion elements are nutrition, exercise, body weight, alcohol drinking, smoking, stress and so forth. These elements are important on physical and psychosocial well being. A good physical and psychosocial status can increase a personal ability of psychosocial activities. This study surveyed to assess healthy behaviors and to encourage pursuing more health promotion. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 91 pilots and 90 ground staffs in A-Airlines and the period of survey was from march, 2002 to June, 2002. This survey used Wilson's Fantastic Lifestyle Assessment and this assessment was designed to assess healthy behaviors. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire including 12 items (.relationship of family and friends, activity, nutrition, smoking, toxin, alcohol drinking, sleep, seatbelt, stress, personality, insight, career satisfaction). These data were analyzed statistically by t-test. RESULTS: Mean score of this assessment is 39.16 in pilot, 31.99 in ground staff. Pilot had better healthy behaviors than ground staff in the aspect of all 12 items. Especially, Pilot had better healthy behaviors than ground staff in the aspect of relationship of family and friends, activity, nutrition, smoking, alcohol drinking (drunken amount), sleep, stress, personality, insight, career satisfaction. There were statistically significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In comparing pilot and ground staff were significant difference except drug, seatbelt, frequency of drinking, which means that pilot had better healthy behaviors than ground staff. The result suggests that medical services supply pilots with more thorough and frequently periodic health education. In the future, the role of medical team needs to give a continuous health education of pilots and also, ground staff.

Determinants on Occurrence of Hypertension in the Korean Adult Male Workers in an Industry: a Nested Case-control Study / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In order to find determinants on occurrence of hypertension in the adult male workers in an industry, a nested case-control study was performed in Seoul, Korea at the periodic health examination center. METHODS: A cohort was formed with 1,690 normotensive male workers in 1996 and 1997, who had participated in three consecutive periodic health examinations from 1996 through 1998. Cases were 89 hypertensives in 1998, controls were 356 selected by 1:4 age-matching among 1,601 normotensives in 1998. Baseline health behavior (drinking smoking, exercise), baseline health examination data (height, weight, BMI, blood pressure. hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, serum total cholesterol), and the changes of data during the study period were compared between case and controls. And multiple logistic regression was performed to find determinants on occurrence of hypertension. RESULTS: There was significant difference in alcohol consumption amount, baseline weight, DM1, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and hemoglobin level. The main determinants on occurrence of hypertension from multiple logistic regression analysis were baseline systolic blood pressure (OR, 1. 13; 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.18%), 15-21 drinks per week (OR, 4.17; 95 % confidence interval 1.44-12.11), and 22 or more drinks per week (OR, 5.29; 95 % confidence interval 1.50-18.58). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the importance of baseline blood pressure level and adequate drinking habit for the management of hypertension.

The factors related with office worker's health perception

BACKGROUND: Recently, the concept of health is being extended to physical, mental and social aspects, which leads people to pursue health positively behavior. But the evaluation of health condition shows a tendency to be biased to functional side. It means the absence of well being sensation that anyone feels like he has poor health. In this case, even if he is in physically good health, he is not rated as healthy. We analyzed the relationship between one's health state and the factors related with health perception including health behavior, mind and social environment. METHODS: For a month of May 1996, we surveyed those who visited for Periodic medical check-up at one general hospital in Seoul. The questionnaire consisted of the total of 25 items ; diet behavior, weight control, coffee, coke, tea, drug use of, smoking, drinking, exercise, leisure, safety belts use, jay walking, sleep, stress, personality, anxiety, depression, occupational satisfaction, relationships with family and friends. Five point scale is used as the answer of each question item with high point as good living behavior. Among 406 who had sincerely answered the questionnaire, we divided them into healthy and unhealthy group and compared with the point of each question item and with the laboratory data(obesity, blood pressure, hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol and ALT). RESULTS: Among 406, the number of those who perceived themselves to be healthy was 175(43.1%, healthy group) and the one of those who did not was 231(56.9%, unhealthy group), The difference between both groups was not significant in distribution of sex, age, academic career, income and religion. In laboratory data and living behavior they showed same results, also. But the points of unhealthy group were significantly lower than those of healthy group in coffee, coke, tee, drugs usage, exercise, leisure, stress, personality, anxiety, depression, occupational satisfaction and relationship with family and friends. So was the total point of all items of unhealthy group in comparison with that of health group. In the case of male, the points of unhealthy group were significantly lower in smoking, safety belt use, fay walking, sleeping as well as the above items. On the contrary, in the case of female, both groups were not significantly different all item except exercise and leisure. CONCLUSIONS: Health perception is influenced by psychosocial factors and living behavior more than by physical health. Therefore family physician must be concerned about patient's living behavior, mental and social problems and must make an effort to change their perception of health as well as physical improvement.

The propensity to depression and anxiety in children

BACKGROUND: The goals of this study are to investigate the propensity to depression and anxiety in children, and also, to investigate its relationship to the family structure, their life events, and school achievement. We have attempted to aid the continuous and comprehensive management of children with depression and anxiety in a field of family practice. METHODS: A group of 797 boys and girls in 5th and 6th were selected grades a elementary school in their, In the area of ll-san and In-cheon city in August, 1997. Making use of the Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory(CDI, 1977) and the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children(STAIC, 1973), we investigated the propensity to depression and anxiety by self-rating. At the same time, the general characteristics(gender, age, resideuce, family structure), life events(death single parent, divorced family, death of a sibling, family discord between husband), and school achievement were investigated and assessed their relationship. RESULTS: The Children's Depression Inventory score was 11.69, the State Anxiety Inventory score was 31.51, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory score was 31.49. The CDI score were significantly higher in females, sixth year students, residents execpt for those living in an apartment or villa, and low school achievement group(P<0.01, P<0.05), There was no significance between CDI score and age, whether or not a dual-income family, death of a sib, hospitalization within 6 months, and family discord between husband and wife. The STAIC score was significantly higher for old age, female, sixth year students, and low school achieve menu group(P<0.01), and there was no significance between the STAIC score and residence, whether or not a dual-income family, death of a sibling, hospitalization within 6 months, and family discord between husband and wife. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, there was a significant correlation between gender, school years, school achievement and a propensity to depression and anxiety. Therefore, family physician should be more involved in family intervention and anticipatory guidance upon medical examination and treatment, if he or she has a symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Influence of weight gain to cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND: The obese patients increased recently in Korea due to excessive energy intake and decreased physical activity. We are well known that obesity is associted with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, hypertension, but not known to influence of weight gain to change in cardio-vascular risk factors. Once, the study of obesity are many but the study of influence of weight gain are small in Korea. This study investigated to influence of weight gain in cardio-vascular risk factors. METHODS: We gatherd case and control group among persons who has taken twice medical examination except disease person from October 1990 to October 1995 at SungAe General hospital. In our study, total 167 case, compare weight gain group(>3kg) with control group to change in cardiovascular risk factor. RESULTS: Sex, age, smoking history, obesity index were not statistically significant difference between two group in the first medical examination. systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, HDL, total cholesterol/HDL were not statistically significant difference between two group for weight gain. Total cholesterol and triglyceride, LDL were stastistically significant increased. CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain was increased of total cholestrol and triglyceride, LDL, so weight control was important.

The housewives' feeding trends in an area of Seoul, Korea

No abstract available.