Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

The roles of doctors, nurses, and industrial hygienists in the healthcare management services in Korea: a comparison of the opinions of specialized health management institutions and entrusted enterprises: Bo-Young Jang, Dong-Mug Kang, Young-Ki Kim, Se-Young Kim, Kyung-Sun Ko; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:50. Published online August 7, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0261-9

Background

This study aimed to identify the difference of perception about the role of appointing health officers by comparing and analyzing the response of entrustment workplace (EW) and specialized health management institution (SI). This is considered an important aspect of an institutional assessment to improve the quality of health management services.

Methods

A survey questionnaire was mailed to 122 SIs and 319 EWs nationwide. The questionnaire survey was about the general characteristics of SIs and EWs and main occupations for each evaluation item. In total, 81 SIs (66.4%) and 30 EWs responded to the questionnaire. A logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the opinions of SI and EW.

Results

Based on the analysis, the items showing statistically significant differences were as follows. Doctors’ main tasks survey: “Guidance on their wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)” (OR: 4.58), “Guidance of improvement of work environment (WE)” (OR: 3.33), etc.; Nurses’ main tasks survey: “Guidance on their wearing PPE” (OR: 3.86), “Guidance for programs on health process in confined space (CS)” (OR: 0.36), “Guidance on the hearing conservation program (HCP)” (OR: 0.28), etc.; Industrial hygienist (IH)‘s main tasks survey: “Guidance of work through inspection (WTI)” (OR: 0.15), “Guidance on the improvement of WE” (OR: 0.32), “Management confirmation of substances used by process and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)” (OR: 0.08), “Guidance on posting or keeping of MSDS and warning signs” (OR: 0.03), “Prevention of dust-induced medical problems” (OR: 0.28), “Guidance for programs of health process in CS” (OR: 0.39), etc.

Conclusions

It is necessary to educate the EWs to recognize the need for physicians to perform tasks, such as wearing a PPE, and instruction to improve WE. As for nurses’ tasks, such as education about the CS and the noise work, educating the nurses of the SI is regarded necessary as the demand of the EWs is considered. With respect to the unique tasks of IH, such as WE management and instructions for wearing PPE, among several other tasks of IH, training should be provided for improved IH recognition.

Citations

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Underestimation of smoking hazards and smoking cessation intervention efficiency among healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study among Korean occupational health nurses
Jihye Lee, Saerom Lee, Woncheol Lee, Seung Hyeun Lee, Won Gun Kwack, Young Joong Kang
Tobacco Induced Diseases.2023; 21(May): 1. CrossRef
The Current Status of the Administrative Dispositions of Nurses: A Nationwide Survey in South Korea
Suyoung KIM, Sanghee KIM
Journal of Nursing Research.2021; 29(5): e170. CrossRef
Occupational health nurses’ personal attitudes toward smoking: A cross-sectional study
Jihye Lee, Saerom Lee, Minkyu Lee, Young Joong Kang
Journal of Occupational Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef

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Research Article

Practice status of specialized agencies for occupational health management of small- to medium-size enterprises and the factors improving their performance: a cross-sectional survey study: Saerom Lee, Jun-Pyo Myong, Eun-A Kim, Huisu Eom, Bowha Choi, Young Joong Kang; Ann Occup Environ Med 2017;29:4. Published online February 27, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-017-0161-4

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Background

We examined the current status of specialized agencies for occupational health management (SAs) and their workforce. Furthermore, we aimed to clarify the current practice status of SA healthcare professionals and factors that influence their performance.

Methods

To examine the current SA workforce, we analyzed data from the 2014 Survey of Current Status of SA and their Workforce from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL). Furthermore, we mailed out an original questionnaire to SA professionals to determine their current health management status and factors that affect their performance. Data from the respondents (N = 384) were analyzed.

Results

In 2014, the workforce performing health management in SAs comprised 232 physicians, 507 nurses, and 312 occupational hygienists, with no significant regional differences in the distribution of physicians and nurses. According to the findings of the questionnaire, the average daily number of worker consultations by physicians and nurses was 22.8, while the average time taken for health management ranged from 74.3 to 104.3 min, depending on the size of the firm. Most of the respondents (41.5%) answered that they were following-up on more than 80% of individuals with illnesses. Among health management tasks, performance scores of “consultations for general diseases” and “consultations for lifestyle habits” were relatively high, whereas health promotion activities at workplaces were relatively low. There was a significant correlation between the utilization of general and special health examination results and task performance.

Conclusion

Among health management tasks, follow-up management of individuals with illnesses and consultations for disease/lifestyle habits were relatively well performed, whereas health promotion activities at workplaces were not performed well. Among factors that positively influenced SA performance at workplaces, only the utilization of health examination results had significant effects. Therefore, to accomplish health management goals and perform effective health management at workplaces, there is a need to establish a comprehensive system of occupational health service outsourcing integrating health examinations and health management services. Furthermore, the current task system, which focuses on follow-up management, should be expanded to incorporate preventive and health promotion functions—the fundamental functions of occupational health services (OHS).

Citations

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Underestimation of smoking hazards and smoking cessation intervention efficiency among healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study among Korean occupational health nurses
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Tobacco Induced Diseases.2023; 21(May): 1. CrossRef
Acute myeloid leukemia in a farmer with long term exposure to pesticides in Korea
Ye-eun Jeon, Jea Chul Ha, Seonggyu Kim, Mi Hwa Heo, Young Rok Do, Insung Chung
Medicine: Case Reports and Study Protocols.2022; 3(1): e0189. CrossRef
Occupational health nurses’ personal attitudes toward smoking: A cross-sectional study
Jihye Lee, Saerom Lee, Minkyu Lee, Young Joong Kang
Journal of Occupational Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Daytime and nighttime heat wave characteristics based on multiple indices over the China–Pakistan economic corridor
Safi Ullah, Qinglong You, Waheed Ullah, Daniel Fiifi Tawia Hagan, Amjad Ali, Gohar Ali, Yuqing Zhang, Mushtaq Ahmad Jan, Asher Samuel Bhatti, Wenxin Xie
Climate Dynamics.2019; 53(9-10): 6329. CrossRef
The roles of doctors, nurses, and industrial hygienists in the healthcare management services in Korea: a comparison of the opinions of specialized health management institutions and entrusted enterprises
Bo-Young Jang, Dong-Mug Kang, Young-Ki Kim, Se-Young Kim, Kyung-Sun Ko
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Erratum to: Practice status of specialized agencies for occupational health management of small- to medium-size enterprises and the factors improving their performance: a cross-sectional survey study
Saerom Lee, Jun-Pyo Myong, Eun-A Kim, Huisu Eom, Bowha Choi, Young Joong Kang
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2017;[Epub] CrossRef

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Original Article

Comparison of Cardiovascular Disease Status Between Large Scale Industry Office and Self Employed Male Workers: Keun Ho Jang, Won Ju Park, Myeong Bo Kim, Dae Kwang Lee, Hong Jae Chae, Jai Dong Moon; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(2):130-138. Published online June 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.2.130

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to compare the cardiovascular disease status between large scale industry office and self employed male workers who have gaps in their intensive health management.
METHODS
The cross sectional study was carried out with subjects composed of 244 shipyard office male workers and 381 self employed male workers, aged 30 to 55 years. They were given a health exam in a general hospital from January 2007 to June 2009. Information was based on data from self-administered questionnaires, physical examination and laboratory results on blood samples. The degree of coronary artery calcification and stenosis was evaluated by a 64 channel multi-detector computed tomography angiography.
RESULTS
The prevalence of hypertension(p<0.01) and diabetes mellitus(p=0.02) and waist circumference(p<0.01) was significantly lower in the shipyard office workers than in self employed workers. Proper drinking(p<0.01) was more commmon in shipyard office workers. The rates of coronary artery calcification and stenosis were estimated to be 18.4% and 11.5% respectively for shipyard office workers and were significantly lower than the 26.5% and 21.5% for self employed workers. After adjustment for age, the probability of coronary artery stenosis in shipyard office workers was lower than in self employed workers (OR=0.56, 95% CI=0.35~0.90).
CONCLUSIONS
The study results verified the benefits of a health promotion and intervention program and the healthy worker effect for cardiovascular diseases. More specifically, it verified the benefits regarding coronary artery stenosis in large scale industry office workers. This result should encourage the establishment of health promotion programs and the study of occupational epidemiology.

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The effect of employment transitions on physical health among the elderly in South Korea: A longitudinal analysis of the Korean Retirement and Income Study
Juyeon Lee, Myoung-Hee Kim
Social Science & Medicine.2017; 181: 122. CrossRef
Association of Work-related Characteristics and Hypertension among White Collar Workers
Chae-Bong Kim, KyooSang Kim
Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.2015; 25(3): 418. CrossRef
Comparison of oral health status by metabolic syndrome risk factors in workers
In-Young Ku, Seon-Jeong Moon, Myeong-Seon Lee, Kyung-Hwan Ka
Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene.2013; 13(4): 581. CrossRef

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Original Article

Symptom prevalence and Primary intervention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their related factors among manufacturing workers: Hyunjoo Kim, Woo Cheol Jeong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005;17(2):116-128. Published online June 30, 2005; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2005.17.2.116

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the symptom prevalence and the primary intervention of work-related musculoskeletal diseases(WMSDs) and their related factors among manufacturing workers.
METHOD
A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 2,457 workers, at 22 enterprises in Chungnam province, Korea, from September 1 to December 1, 2003. The contents of the questionnaire included general and work-related characteristics, musculoskeletal symptoms and workers' past one-year experience of primary interventions.
RESULTS
1. The overall symptom prevalence of the musculoskeletal diseases was 23.9%. The WMSD symptom prevalences at the neck/shoulder, arm/elbow, hand/wrist and back/leg were 14.8%. 2.7%. 7.3% and 12.0%, respectively. 2. In multivariate analysis, all WMSD symptom prevalences were high in the high workload, high force & high repetitiveness, and 'high job strain' groups. The WMSD symptom prevalence at neck/shoulder was also high in females and the group experiencing low social support from the supervisor. 3. The rates of the primary interventions were as follows : 13.7% for health education, 5.8% for health counselling, 18.8% for preventive exercise, 24.7% for ergonomic intervention, and 9.8% for administrative intervention. 4. In multivariate analysis, the size of the enterprises and the type of occupational health management system(OHMS) were significantly associated with all primary interventions except health counselling(p<0.05). The other individual-level predictive factors were as follows. Those for the health education were male and union presence. Those for the health counselling were older age(> or =40 years), irregular employment, and the active group of Karasek's job strain model. Those for the preventive exercise were male, older age, longer tenure and regular employment. Those for the ergonomic intervention were longer tenure, job of physical force and/or repetitiveness, high job stain and the group experiencing high social support from the supervisor. The predictive factor for the administrative intervention was male (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
To establish an effective strategy for the primary prevention of WMSDs, approaches are needed which consider the individual nature of small and medium sized enterprises. IAlso necessary is to promote the participation of labor and management because the activation of the primary intervention was associated with the type of OHMS and union presence. Moreover the reduction of workload and increased intervention into the high risk group could be effective in the prevention of WMSDs.

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Effect of Physical Therapy Based Tailored Exercise Program on Pain, Accident incidence Rates, and Lost Days of Work in Manufacturing Worker: Single Subject Design
Kwon-Woo Lee, Won-Ho Kim
Journal of The Korean Society of Physical Medicine.2017; 12(2): 113. CrossRef
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Youn-Bum Sung, Hyung-Seok Seo, Jung-Ho Lee, Young-Han Park
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2012; 13(9): 3999. CrossRef
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Soo-Jin Lee, Hwan-Jin Park
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2011; 30(4): 525. CrossRef

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Original Article

Contact dermatitis surveillance system in Taejon city: Prevalence of contact dermatitis among the workers exposed to solvents and nonmentallic chemicals through an immediate health examination system in Taejon city: Seong Sil Chang, Sooyoung Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(2):227-234. Published online June 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.2.227

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
We tried to establish a Regional Occupational Surveillance System (ROSS) for estimating the prevalence and monitoring the trend of occupational dermatitis among 718 manufacturing workers exposed to organic solvents and nonmetallic chemicals in small and medium sized businesses of 1,2 industrial complex area of taejon City.
METHODS
Through the report from the nurses of Group Occupational Health Management System, we made a case referral and immediate health examination system with occupational medical clinics. We also performed a survey for detecting occupational dermatitis by a self-administered questionnaire. Case must meet 3 criteria; 1) He/She must have one or more significant cutaneous signs and symptoms. 2) The symptom should be changed by the work condition or caused by risk chemicals. 3) Dermatitis should be diagnosed by a doctor. Results Among the 131 workers(17. 7 %) with significant symptoms screened by the questionnaire, 4 workers(0. 6 %) met the case definition criteria. And among the 45 workers (6. 3 9o) referred to the immediate diagnosed system, 14 workers (l. 9 %) were Strongly suspected to have occupational dermatitis.
CONCLUSIONS
These prevalence rates were quite underestimated because of deficient recognition of the disease severity among the workers, reversibility of the target diseases, and life-threathening mood due to nationwide economic crisis and the socioeconomic withdrawal of each business. Ultimately, harmonized activities of government, industry, labor unions, volunteer organization and academy relating to occupational health in a community should be encouraged to do creative, consistent efforts for evolution and development of this first trial of ROSS.

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Work-relatedness of lung cancer by smoking and histologic type in Korea
Young-Il Lee, Sang-Gil Lee, Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Young-Ki Kim, Jong-Han Leem, Hwan-Cheol Kim
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
Occupational Skin Diseases in Korea
Yeon-Soon Ahn, Min-Gi Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S46. CrossRef

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Original Article

A Study on the Practical Behavior of Health Care Managers at the Worksite: Jae Hee Lee, Jae Hoon Roh, Kyoo Sang Kim, Yeon Soon Ahn; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;7(1):88-100. Published online February 28, 1995; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.1.88

Abstract PDF

This study was conducted to find out the characteristics, type of the duty and job satisfaction of health care managers at the worksite. The subjects of this study were 306 health care managers serving at worksite situated in Kyungin presently in 1994, concerning their job. Major depedent variables were health management, environmental management, and health planning related with health care managers' job; these variables were measured by nominal scale consisted of 9 items respectively. The collected data were analysed and some major results are as follows; 1. It appeared that according to the qualification of health care managers, nurses showed high performing rate in duty of health managerment and health planning, Industrial hygienist showed high performing rate relating to working environmemt managemant, and regarding their holding an additional post, the number of environmental managers held more an additionnal post than other qualified managers, thereby showing significant relatively, and however, no relation with qualification was there in decision making. 2. The performing rate relatiag to health management was significantly correlate with female, youth, unmarried, higher education, general affairs in post of duty, general employee in position, only duty of health, low monthly income and nurse. But, the performing rate relating to environmental management was significantly correlate with manufacturing industries, industrial health and safety committee, male, old age, married, long work duration, additional post, high monthly income, and hygienist and environmental managers. The performing rate relating to health planning was significantly correlate with the performing rate relating to health and environmental management, but the performing rate relating to health management was not significantly correlate with the performing rate relating to environmental management. 3. In multiple regression analysis, common major determinants of the performing duty relating to health management, environmental management and health planning were industrial health and safety committee, type of industry, education, and qualification of industry's health care managers. Additionally, age was selected as highly correlated with the performing duty relating to environmental management, and work duration and post of duty of health care managers in industry were selected as highly correlated with the performing duty relating to health planning, Based on the results indicated above, it could be understood that characteristics of the worksite-industrial health and safety committee, scale and types of industry, and characteristics of health care managers-age, education, post of duty, work duration and qualification had relations with their type of the duty. Therefore, it is required that the reference to the above-showing results such as guiding for them to precisely grasp their performing duty according to their qualification, heightening their participation in decision-making, extending the industrial health service, etc., operation and management of health care managers at the worksite should be made into being more efficient.

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Economic Evaluation of a Workplace Occupational Health Nursing Service: Based on Comparison with Atmospheric Environment Managing Engineer
Hye-Sun Jung, Bokim Lee
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2013; 43(4): 507. CrossRef
Job Analysis with IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis) based on the Qualification of Occupational Health Managers Working in Manufacturing Work-sites
Jung-Ah Yun, Soon-Lae Kim, Hye-Sun Jung
Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing.2013; 22(2): 159. CrossRef
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Min Kwon, Soon-Lae Kim, Hye-Sun Jung, Hee-Girl Kim, Kyung-Lim Kim
Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing.2011; 20(1): 83. CrossRef

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