Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Special Issue

Working hours and the regulations for night shift workers: Tae-Won Jang; Ann Occup Environ Med 2023;35:e19. Published online July 5, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e19

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There are several types of shift work in Korea: rotating shift, 24-hour shift, day-night shift, fixed night work, and.so on. As a result of analyzing the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey, Korean shift workers accounted for 11.6%–13.9% of wage workers. Weekly working hours of shift workers were 57.69 ± 1.73 (24-hours shift) and 49.97 ± 0.67 (fixed night shift), which were significantly longer than day workers. To prevent health consequences of night work, many countries regulate the working hours of night work not to exceed 7–9 hours a day. However, Korea does not regulate working hours for night work, and some occupations may work more hours than the prescribed overtime hours. To prevent health consequences and reduce working hours for Korean night shift workers, it is necessary to regulate the working hours of night shift workers by law.

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The association of shift work and TyG index among male workers in a chemical plant of Korea: a cross-sectional study
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Research Articles

Comparing risk of depression between day and night/shift workers using the PHQ-9: a study utilizing the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data: Jae-Han Lee, Sang-Woo Kim, Jae-Han Joo, Na-Rae Lee, June-Hee Lee, Kyung-Jae Lee; Ann Occup Environ Med 2021;33:e18. Published online June 9, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e18

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF PubReader ePub

Background

In today's work scenario, the number of shift workers, including those in night shifts, is increasing. Shift work can adversely affect workers' health in the long run, but studies on the relationship between shift work and depression have shown inconsistent results. This study aimed to determine whether the number of night/shift workers at risk of depression, as predicted by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), is higher than that of day workers.

Methods

This study was conducted based on data from the 6th and 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Work schedules were classified into 2 types: day work and night/shift work. This study used the PHQ-9, a self-reported depression screening test, to identify workers at risk of depression. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0, and descriptive statistics, χ² test, and logistic regression analysis were employed.

Results

After adjusting for age, educational level, working hours per week, and income, men engaging in night/shift work were at a higher risk of depression (odds ratio [OR]: 1.407, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.937–2.113). The same was confirmed for women (OR: 1.564, 95% CI: 1.176–2.081).

Conclusions

Our results showed that the OR for those engaged in night/shift work with a PHQ-9 score of 10 or more increased. Considering the large volume of psychiatric history and symptoms in Korea, additional research is needed. Additionally, further discussion on ways to provide realistic help to night/shift workers is warranted.

교대근무 여부에 따른 PHQ-9을 이용한 근로자의 우울증 위험 비교: 2014, 2016 및 2018년 국민건강영양조사를 이용하여
목적
현대 사회에서는 야간 근무를 포함하여 다양한 업무를 수행하는 교대 근무자가 증가하고 있다. 교대 근무는 장기적으로 근로자의 건강에 악영향을 미칠 수 있지만 교대 근무와 우울증의 관계에 대한 연구 결과는 일관성이 없는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 PHQ-9로 예측한 우울증에 걸릴 위험이 높은 국내 야간 및 교대 근무 근로자 수가 주간 근로자보다 많은지 여부를 확인하고자 한다.
방법
본 연구는 제 6 차 및 제 7 차 국민 건강 영양 조사 자료 중 2014, 2016년 및 2018년의 자료를 바탕으로 진행되었다. 근무 일정은 주간 근무와 야간 및 교대근무로 구분 하였다. 이 연구는 우울증에 걸릴 위험이 있는 근로자를 결정하기 위해 자가 보고 우울증 선별 검사 인 PHQ-9를 사용하였다. SPSS 23.0을 이용하여 통계 분석을 수행하였고 통계적 방법으로는 기술 통계, 카이 제곱 분석, 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 사용 하였다.
결과
연령, 교육 수준, 주당 근무 시간 및 수입으로 보정 후 분석하였을 때, 야간 및 교대 근무 근로자에서 우울증 위험군에 해당하는 경우가 유의하게 더 높았으며(odds ratio [OR] = 1.407 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.937–2.113)), 이는 여성에서도 마찬가지로 나타났다(odds ratio [OR] = 1.564 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.176–2.081)).
결론
본 연구를 통해 야간 및 교대근무 근로자에서 PHQ-9 점수가 10점 이상인 우울증 위험군에 해당하는 경우가 유의하게 높음을 확인할 수 있었다. 현재 한국의 정신 병력과 증상의 유병률을 고려할 때 야간 근로자에게 현실적인 도움을 제공 할 수 있는 방법에 대한 추가 논의와 함께 추가 연구가 필요하다.

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Night shift work, genetic risk, and the risk of depression: A prospective cohort study
Yanchun Chen, Hongxi Yang, Yuan Zhang, Lihui Zhou, Jing Lin, Yaogang Wang
Journal of Affective Disorders.2024; 354: 735. CrossRef
Changes in the Health Indicators of Hospital Medical Residents During the Four-Year Training Period in Korea
Ji-Sung Ahn, Seunghyeon Cho, Won-Ju Park
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The relationship between night work and breast cancer: Hye-Eun Lee, Jongin Lee, Tae-Won Jang, In-Ah Kim, Jungsun Park, Jaechul Song; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:11. Published online February 6, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0221-4

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Background

Since the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified shift work that involves circadian disruption as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” there has been growing concern on the relationship between night work and breast cancer. In Korea, about 10–15% of workers are engaged in night-shift work, and breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. The purpose of this study was to review epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between night work and breast cancer.

Methods

We reviewed 21 original articles and 5 meta analyses on relationship between nightwork and breast cancer, and investigated the compensation criteria of Denmark.

Results

The association between breast cancer and night work has been reported by numerous epidemiologic studies, including cohort studies, case-control studies, and meta-analysis. However, a dose-response relationship has not clearly emerged among workers exposed to less than 20 years of night work.

Conclusion

Although there are some limitations to the epidemiological studies so far, further consideration of breast cancer cases in patients with high exposure to night work is needed to assess breast cancer as a work-related disease.

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The relationship between night work and involuntary weight change: data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2010–2012): Jongho Kwon, Jung-Woo Park, Jin-Soo Park, Seyoung Kim, Hyunrim Choi, Sinye Lim; Ann Occup Environ Med 2016;28:4. Published online January 29, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-016-0088-1

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Background

Previous studies on the association between shift or night work and weight change have been focused on finding the risk of weight gain caused by shift or night work. In this study, we aimed to reveal the risk of weight gain and weight loss associated with night work by using a nationwide representative data.

Methods

This study was performed on 1605 full-time wage workers between the age of 20 and 69 based on the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2010–2012). The association between night work and involuntary weight change in the previous year was divided into the categories of weight gain and weight loss and studied with modifications in socio-demographic variables, health behavior-related variables, and occupational characteristic variables.

Results

The participants working in night work accounted for 10.6 % of total study participants (male; 11.9 %, female 7.4 %). Workers who worked more than 48 hours per week on average accounted for 41.6 % of the total study participants (male; 46.3 %, female 29.1 %).

Odds ratio (OR) of weight loss associated with night work in male workers was 0.34 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.16–0.76) after controlling for several related factors. OR of weight loss associated with night work in female workers with long working hours was 1.95 (95 % CI 0.47–80.86) and that of weight gain was 2.83 (95 % CI 0.12–69.83) after adjusting associated factors.

Conclusions

In this cross-sectional study with national representative sample, night work may lower the risk of weight loss in male workers and induce weight change (weight loss or weight gain) in female workers with long working hours. Therefore, future studies with cohort study design for night workers are needed to reveal the mechanisms and health effects of weight change associated with night work and establish proper management solutions with health and labor policies for Korean night workers.

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Association between night work and cardiovascular diseases: analysis of the 3rd Korean working conditions survey: Sungjin Park, Juhyun Nam, Jong-Ku Lee, Sung-Soo Oh, Hee-Tae Kang, Sang-Baek Koh; Ann Occup Environ Med 2015;27:15. Published online May 11, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-015-0064-1

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Objectives

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between night work and cardiovascular diseases among wage workers in Korea.

Methods

The study was based on the 3rd Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS; 2011). This study included 29,711 wage workers. We used the chi-squared test and logistic regression to examine the association between cardiovascular diseases and night work and cumulative night work.

Results

Among all of the paid workers, 12.5% reported doing night work ≥ 1 day per month. Night work was significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.25). Also, compared to the group that did not do night works, the group with higher cumulative night work demonstrated an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19-2.74).

Conclusions

This study suggests that night work is significantly associated with cardiovascular diseases.

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Original Article

An Association between Working Schedules and Depression in Public Sector Employees: Hyeon Taek Heo, Dong Won Kim, Jong Seok Lee, Hyeon A Jo, Seong Sil Jang, Soo Young Kim, In Ah Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012;24(4):347-355. Published online December 31, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2012.24.4.347

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study determined the work schedules of public project workers who work an irregular shift and assessed the effect of these schedules on depression.
METHODS
Study subjects were 2934 laborers who are members of seven labor unions. Each was given a questionnaire requesting basic personal information, habits, socioeconomic status, and work schedules. Information gathered on work schedules included daytime, nighttime, and weekend work hours. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), with Laborers who checked "not depressed" and "slightly depressive" categorized to a low-risk group, whereas laborers who checked "depressed" and "severely depressed" were categorized to a high-risk group. We used the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between work schedules and depression.
RESULTS
Laborers on an irregular work schedule averaged 47.8 hours/week and laborers who working over 48 hours/week comprised over half (54.5%) of the total population. Laborers performing night work, Sunday work, and Saturday work more than once in a month made up 25.7%, 30.8% and 33.5% of the examined population, respectively. A high-risk for depression was identified in 10.4% of laborers. Using logistic regression, depression was statistically associated with working : over 10 hours a day (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.10~2.43), night work (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.46~3.32), Sunday work (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.15~2.85) and Saturday work (OR=1.82 95% CI 1.18~2.82).
CONCLUSION
A significant number of laborers with irregular working shifts work long hours and on weekends. Depression was significantly associated with this type of work schedule.

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