The association between concealing emotions at work and medical utilization in Korea

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between concealing emotions at work and medical utilization. METHODS: Data from the 2007-2009 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) was used, 7,094 participants (3,837 males, 3,257 females) aged between 20 and 54 who were economically active and completed all necessary questionnaire items were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for differences in hospitalization, outpatient visits, and pharmaceutical drug use between those who concealed their emotions and those who did not were investigated using logistic regression models with and without gender stratification. RESULTS: Among those who concealed their emotions (n = 2,763), 47.4% were females, and 50.1% had chronic disease. In addition, 9.7% of the concealing emotions group had been hospitalized within the last year, 24.8% had been outpatients in the last two weeks, and 28.3% had used pharmaceutical drugs in the last two weeks. All ORs represent the odds of belonging to the concealing emotions group over the non-concealing emotions group. After adjustment for individual, occupational, socioeconomic and disease factors, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) in hospitalization are 1.29 (1.08 ~ 1.53) in the total population, 1.25 (0.98 ~ 1.60) in males and 1.30 (1.02 ~ 1.66) in females, in outpatient visits are 1.15 (1.02 ~ 1.29) in the total population, 1.05 (0.88 ~ 1.24) in males and 1.25 (1.06 ~ 1.47) in females and in pharmaceutical drug use are 1.12 (1.01 ~ 1.25) in the total population, 1.08 (0.92 ~ 1.27) in males and 1.14 (0.98 ~ 1.33) in females. CONCLUSIONS: Those who concealed their emotions at work were more likely to use medical services. Moreover, the health effects of concealing emotions at work might be more detrimental in women than in men.ope

Occupational Noise Annoyance Linked to Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation: A Result from Nationwide Survey of Korea

BACKGROUND: Noise, or undesirable sound, is one of the most common environmental stressors, and it can cause various health effects. Beyond the auditory consequences of occupational noise exposure, extra-auditory effects such as psychological problems have also been found. The aim of the current study is to elucidate the association between occupational noise annoyance and psychological symptoms, including symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation. METHODS: A total of 10,020 participants (5,410 men and 4,610 women) were included in the current analysis, using data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Self-report questionnaires were used to assess noise annoyance levels, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for psychosocial symptoms were calculated using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Compared to the no noise annoyance group, ORs (95% CI) of the severe annoyance groups were 1.58 (1.12-2.23) and 1.76 (1.29-2.40) in men and 1.49 (1.05-2.11) and 1.41 (1.01-1.97) in women for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, respectively. The ORs (95% CI) for severe noise annoyance in those with less than five hours of sleep were 2.95 (1.46-5.96) and 2.05 (1.01-4.16) in men and women, respectively, compared with those with no noise annoyance and a sleep time of more than five hours. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that occupational noise annoyance is significantly related to mental health, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation after controlling for individual and socio-demographic characteristics even with gender stratification. However, prospective studies with quantified noise exposure assessment were needed to elucidate the causality on the association between noise annoyance and psychological symptoms.ope

A case of multiple myeloma in a poultry worker

BACKGROUND: Livestock breeders including poultry workers are exposed to various agricultural chemicals including pesticides and/or organic solvents. Multiple myeloma is a rare disease in Korea, and few reports have investigated the influence of occupational exposures on multiple myeloma occurrence. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old male poultry farm worker presented with bone pain and generalized weakness. A bone marrow biopsy was performed, and he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The patient had worked in a poultry farm for 16 years and was exposed to various pesticides and organic solvents such as formaldehyde without any proper personal protective equipment. Results of the work reenactment revealed that the concentration of formaldehyde (17.53 ppm) greatly exceeded the time-weighted average (0.5 ppm) and short-term exposure limit (1.0 ppm) suggested in the Korean Industrial Safety and Health Act. CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests that poultry workers may be exposed to high levels of various hazardous chemicals including pesticides and/or organic solvents. Numerous previous studies have suggested an association between multiple myeloma and exposure to agricultural chemicals; thus, multiple myeloma in this patient might have resulted from the prolonged, high exposure to these chemicals.ope

Evaluations of Industrial Accident Prevention Program of Korea by using Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) method

We undertook the quantitative evaluations of Industrial Accident Prevention Program (IAPP). The six parameters, such as relevance, efficiency, consistency, sustainability, effectiveness, coherence, were chosen by expert plenary sessions. Two stage of Analytic Hierarchy Process were used to determine the weighted value of assessment criteria. This expert plenary suggests that the six parameters and its weight values are useful for quantitative evaluations of IAPP. Additional researches regarding the real world application of this assessment tool should be initiated.ope

Radiotechnologists and Radiation Exposure from PET and PET/CT Systems.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, radiotechnologists who work performing PET and PET/CT methodologies were analyzed in order to find the cause for the differences in radiation exposure as they applied to general characteristics, work characteristics, knowledge, and exposure recognition or conduct. METHODS: From April 15th, 2010 to May 14th, 2010, we conducted a retrospective analysis on 80 radiotechnologists using data garnered from their individual general characteristics, work characteristics, knowledge, and exposure recognition or conduct. Their average annual radiation exposure dosages were measured using a thermoluminescence dosimeter. A multiple regression analysis was performed as a statistical tool. RESULTS: Regarding the general PET and PET/CT characteristics, when the work experience was short, the exposure dose was higher. The factors of age, marriage, work experience in nuclear medicine, PET, PET/CT, and sex were found to have statistically significant effects. The knowledge, recognition, and conduct factors for the radiotechnologists were affected by unsecure radiation exposure at the moment of carrying, unsecure radiation exposure at the moment of injection, the application of protection at the moment of injection, and the use of auto distributor. It was found that, the use of an auto distributor, efforts in reducing the radiation exposure, unsecure exposure when with a patient, and the application of protective procedures at the moment of injection affected the overall factor of radiotechnologists radiation exposure dose. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that if radiotechnologists would reduce their radiation exposure by using auto distributors, make efforts to reduce the chance of exposure, and be conscious of radiation, they would be able to reduce the radiation exposure dose even during unavoidable circumstances.ope

미용업 근로자의 피부질환증상에 영향을 미치는 직업적 요인에 대한 연구

Dept. of Public Health/석사Objective: In Korea there are 126,358 professional hairdressers and they perform various tasks such as hair washing, hair cutting, blow-drying, permanent waving, dying or tinting. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive statistics on general and work characteristics of hairdressers in Korea and to identify work related risk factors of irritant contact dermatitis in hairdressers. Methods: Data was obtained from the Survey on Exposure Risks, Injury Experiences and Health Problems of hairdressing Industry Workers conducted in 2012. A self-reported questionnaire survey was conducted from May 1st to September 31st and total of 1,500 questionnaires were sent to the study subjects and 1,209 questionnaire were returned thus showing response rate of 80.6%. Work characteristics considered in this study were business type, shop size, training status, work tenure, working hour, experience of exposure to chemicals, use of personal protective equipments and type of personal protective equipments used. The total subjects included in the analysis consists of 1,054 hairdressers who have answered the relevant questions. Other than the descriptive statistics t-test and chi-square test for continuos and categorical variables were performed respectively and analysis for correlation between variables were conducted. The subject were classified into subgroups according to their exposure to chemicals, training status and main tasks and then risk of the dermatologic symptoms was evaluated. Result: The overall mean age of the study subjects was 36.9±10.4 years, the majority were females(894 hairdressers, 85.6%). Among the study subjects 212 hairdressers(20.1%) complained of dermatologic symptoms. According to the training status of the study subjects, 388 hairdressers(36.8%) were masters, 380 hairdressers(36.1%) were designers and 286 hairdressers(27.1%) were staffs. Dermatologic symptoms were more prevalent in younger, unmarried or highly educated hairdresser groups. Hairdressers with bad perceived state of health also showed higher prevalence of dermatologic symptoms. Hairdressers with bad perceived state of health also showed higher prevalence of dermatologic symptoms. Regarding work characteristics of hairdressers, dermatologic symptoms were more prevalent in the hairdressers who worked in a chain of hair shops of large size. Staff hairdressers and who’s work tenure is less than 3 years also showed higher prevalence of dermatologic symptoms. According to the main tasks, dying/tinting and washing showed higher prevalence of dermatologic symptoms than cutting or permanent wave work. Most commonly affected body parts were forearms or fingers regardless of the training status. To the question for specific dermatologic symptoms experienced, 37.7%(370 hairdressers) have answered as redness and itching and 28.9%(276 hairdressers) have answered as redness and swelling. Designer hairdressers showed statistically higher dermatologic symptom prevalence regardless of the specific symptoms except for blister formation but staff hairdressers showed the highest prevalence for symptoms lasting for more than 3 weeks. Proportions of the hairdressers with the experience of hospital visits due to dermatologic symptoms in the past year was significantly higher in master hairdressers, and dermatologic disease diagnosed by doctors were also higher in master hairdressers. For the last, who experienced dermatologic symptoms that were relieved in the weekends were more prevalent in master hairdressers. Logistic regression analysis for odds ratios of dermatologic symptoms according to exposure to chemicals, training status and main tasks in three different models was performed and in case of exposure to chemicals, no statistically significant result were observed. According to the training status, compared to master hairdressers, designer and staff hairdressers showed higher odds ratios of 1.62(95% CI: 1.10-2.38) and 2.69(95% CI: 1.82-3.96) in the crude model, respectively. In case of Model I, both designer(OR: 1.31, 95% CI 0.77-2.22) and staff hairdressers(OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.47-2.43) showed higher odds ratios than master hairdressers but the results were statistically significant only in the staff hairdressers. In Model II designer hairdressers showed higher odds ratios without statistical significance(OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.68-2.19) but staff hairdressers showed statistically higher odd ratios(OR: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.32-5.51) than master hairdressers. According to the main tasks, compared to cutting work group dying/tinting and washing group showed higher odds ratios of 2.16(95% CI: 1.03-4.52) and 2.36(95% CI: 1.64-3.39) in the crude model, respectively. In case of Model I only washing group(OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.32-3.47) showed higher odds ratio than cutting work group and in case of Model II Dying/tinting group(OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.38-3.07) and washing group(OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.22-3.37) showed higher odds ratios than cutting work group but the results were statistically significant only in the washing group. Conclusion: The present study suggested that training status and main tasks of the hairdressers were significantly correlated to each other. In addition, dermatologic symptoms were more prevalent in staff hairdressers or hairdressers who chose washing as their main tasks thus suggesting that the dermatologic symptoms of hairdressers are related to work characteristics such as training status or main tasks.ope

Working Hours and Cardiovascular Disease in Korean Workers: A Case-control Study

OBJECTIVES: Long working hours can negatively impact a worker's health. The objective of this study was to examine the association between working hours and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and compare the degree of risk based on CVD subtypes in Korean workers. METHODS: This study was a case-control study of the patients registered in the Occupational Cardiovascular Diseases Surveillance 2010. The cases included 348 patients diagnosed with a CVD (123 cerebral infarction, 69 intracerebral hemorrhage, 57 subarachnoid hemorrhage, 99 acute myocardial infarction). Controls were 769 participants with no history of CVDs matched for gender, age, type of occupation, and region. Participants' working hours in the previous week and the average working hours over the past three months were assessed to examine short-term and long-term effects. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds ratios (ORs) for CVDs in the short-term were 2.66 (95% Confidence interval (CI) :1.78-3.99) for working ≤40 hours, 1.85 (95% CI: 1.22-2.81) for working 50.1-60 hours and 4.23 (95% CI: 2.81-6.39) for working >60 hours compared with the 40.1-50-hour working group. The ORs in the long-term were 2.90 (95% CI: 1.86-4.52) for working ≤40 hours, 1.73 (95% CI: 1.03-2.90) for working 48.1-52 hours and 3.46 (95% CI: 2.38-5.03) for working >52 hours compared with the 40.1-48-hour working group. CONCLUSIONS: Long working hours are related to an increased risk of CVDs, and the degree of risk differs based on CVD subtype. Short working hours are also related to an increased risk for CVDs. More prospective studies targeting specific disease risks are required.ope