Performances of the WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery among Mal Workers Occupationally Non-exposed to Neurotoxic Agents / 대한산업의학회지

ABSTRACT

Five items among neurobehavioral core test battery of World Health Organization, including Santa Ana dexterity, pursuit aiming, digit symbol, simple reaction time, and Benton visual retention, were administered to the workers occupationally non-exposed to neurotoxic agents by operational guide for the WHO neurobehavioral core test battery. Subjects were volunteers from the industrial workers (117) and clerks (40). Detailed occupational history such as exposed agents including noise or vibration, educational level, residence, smoking and drinking habit were recorded. Most of the neurobehavioral tests were correlated with age and educational level. Smoking was correlated with pursuit aiming and digit symbol. Vibration affected pursuit aiming. Job type (industrial workers vs. clerks) and noise exposure did not affected among tested items. Multiple regression analysis was done for establishing predict equation to estimate normal ranges of the tests for male workers. Age was shown to be main independent variable affected for all tests except wrong dot of pursuit aiming. Educational level was also shown to affected most of the tests except Santa ana dexterity and wrong dot of pursuit aiming. Alcohol consumption affected Santa Ana dexterity, non-preferred hand, and smoking affected only wrong dot of pursuit aiming after multiple regression analysis.