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

ABSTRACT

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.