Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Opinions

Perspectives from the new president of the Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: future strategies for occupational and environmental medicine: Sang Baek Ko; Ann Occup Environ Med 2025;37:e1. Published online February 19, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e1

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF PubReader: Modern Korean society is experiencing fundamental transformations in industrial structures and working environments driven by complex factors, including demographic shifts, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and digital transformation. The evolving dynamics between the manufacturing and service industries, the emergence of technology-driven sectors, and the proliferation of new occupational categories are reshaping traditional employment models. This has directed the labor market toward nonstandard employment forms, including temporary, contract-based, and platform labor. Consequently, issues such as employment instability and reduced accessibility to workplace health programs, including occupational safety training, health examinations, and workplace health management, have become increasingly prominent. Although occupational and environmental medicine has subsequently gained significance, the current occupational health and safety framework inadequately addresses the nuances of emerging labor forms. Legal gaps persist, leaving vulnerable groups such as nonregular workers, platform laborers, and older workers insufficiently protected under existing systems. Furthermore, systemic issues are evident in the inadequate follow-up care during occupational health examinations, lacking continued adherence to hazard-centric approaches, and insufficient attention to chronic diseases and mental health challenges. This study proposes strategies that occupational and environmental medicine can address these issues. First, legal and institutional reforms must encompass new labor forms, accompanied by modernized safety and health guidelines. Second, state-of-the-art technologies should be leveraged to enhance predictive disease management and personalized healthcare for workers. Third, a preventive approach integrating chronic disease management, mental healthcare, and psychosocial risk factors must be established. Fourth, fostering interdisciplinary research collaboration across medicine, engineering, and psychology is essential for developing practical solutions to emerging challenges. In conclusion, occupational and environmental medicine in Korea must adapt to effectively address the evolving labor landscape. Through systematic innovation, integrated health-management approaches, technological advancements, and interdisciplinary cooperation, the health and safety of all workers in the rapidly changing world can be ensured.; 대한직업환경의학회 신임회장의 제언: 직업환경의학의 미래 전략
현대 한국 사회는 인구구조 변화, 4차 산업혁명, 팬데믹, 디지털 전환 등 복합적인 요인에 의해 산업 구조와 근로 환경에서 근본적인 변화를 경험하고 있다. 제조업과 서비스업 간의 역학 변화, 기술 중심 산업의 부상, 새로운 직업군의 확산은 전통적인 고용 모델을 재편하고 있다. 이에 따라 노동 시장은 비정규직, 계약직, 플랫폼 노동과 같은 비표준 고용 형태로 이동하고 있다. 그 결과, 고용 불안정과 직업 안전 교육, 건강검진, 작업장 건강관리 등 직업 건강 프로그램에 대한 접근성 저하 문제가 점점 더 부각되고 있다.
이러한 변화로 직업환경의학의 중요성이 증대되었으나, 현재의 직업 건강 및 안전 체계는 새로운 노동 형태의 특성을 충분히 반영하지 못하고 있다. 법적 공백이 여전히 존재하며, 비정규직 근로자, 플랫폼 노동자, 고령 노동자 등 취약 계층은 기존 제도 아래에서 충분히 보호받지 못하고 있다. 또한, 건강검진 후 사후관리의 미비, 유해 요인 중심 접근의 지속적 적용 부족, 만성 질환 및 정신 건강 문제에 대한 관심 부족 등 체계적 문제가 드러나고 있다.
본 연구는 직업환경의학이 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위한 전략을 제안한다. 첫째, 새로운 노동 형태를 포괄하는 법적·제도적 개혁과 현대화된 안전 및 건강 지침의 도입이 필요하다. 둘째, 최첨단 기술을 활용하여 예측적 질병 관리와 근로자 맞춤형 건강관리를 강화해야 한다. 셋째, 만성 질환 관리, 정신 건강 관리, 심리사회적 위험 요인을 통합하는 예방적 접근을 확립해야 한다. 넷째, 의학, 공학, 심리학 등 학제 간 연구 협력을 통해 새로운 과제에 대한 실질적 해결책을 모색해야 한다. 결론적으로, 한국의 직업환경의학은 변화하는 노동 환경에 효과적으로 대응하기 위해 적응해야 한다. 체계적 혁신, 통합적 건강 관리 접근법, 기술적 발전, 학제 간 협력을 통해 빠르게 변화하는 세계에서 모든 근로자의 건강과 안전을 보장할 수 있을 것이다.

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Research Article

Posttraumatic Growth and Related Factors of Child Protective Service Workers: Young Sun Rhee, Young Bin Ko, In Young Han; Ann Occup Environ Med 2013;25:6. Published online May 21, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-25-6

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Objectives

The aim of the study is to measure the level of vicarious trauma, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and other factors affecting PTG among child protective service workers.

Methods

We include posttraumatic stress, social support, stress coping, and demographic data as independent variables. Data was collected from 255 full-time social workers from 43 child protective agencies as acomplete enumeration and 204 included in the final analysis.

Results

The major findings of the study were as follows: The mean score of PTG was 44.09 (SD:21.73). Hierarchical multiple regression was adopted and "pursuing social support as a way of coping with stress" was the strongest predictive factor (β=0.319, p<0.001) of PTG.

Conclusion

We suggest that child protective workers are vulnerable to posttraumatic stress and mental health services are indicated. We also recommend various types of training for stress coping program, especially strengthening the social support system of the child protective service workers in South Korea.

Citations

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Child Abuse & Neglect.2024; 155: 106964. CrossRef
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Original Article

Effect of Job Stress and Coping Strategy on Job Satisfaction in a Hospital Works: Mi Hee Nam, Se Hoon Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2003;15(1):1-11. Published online March 31, 2003; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2003.15.1.1

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of job stress, and the coping strategy of hospital workers on job satisfaction.
METHODS
468 self-administered questionnaires, were obtained from 120 doctors, 194 nurses, 45pharmacists and 109 administrators at a university hospital located in Seoul. The sociodemographic characteristics, personality types, degree of social support, job stresses, coping strategies, and job satisfaction were all assessed from the questionnaires.
RESULTS
The analysis of job stress, according to occupation, showed that the most important job-related stress-inducing factors were: for doctors, role overload, and poor advancement opportunity; for nurses, role overload, and career development and wages; for pharmacists, role overload and lack of recognition from other health professionals; and for administrators, career development and wages, and organizational inefficiency. Job satisfaction had a significant positive correlation with control strategy, and a negative correlation with role ambiguity, career development and wages, personal relationship, role overload, and symptom management strategy. Job satisfaction was significantly influenced by control strategy, occupation, role ambiguity, person with an 'A' type personality and gender, from a multiple regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggested that to increase the job satisfaction for hospital workers, they need to be encouraged to use control strategies; create a supportive hospital atmospheres for social supports; re-evaluation, structuring and a new job design are all required to reduce role ambiguity.

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Original Article

Feasibility Study of Constructing an Occupational Disease Surveillance System in Inchon: Jong Han Leem, Yun Chul Hong, Hyesook Park, Eun Hee Ha; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1999;11(2):241-253. Published online June 30, 1999; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1999.11.2.241

Abstract PDF: The occurrence of occupational illnesses and injuries has been seriously underestimated in Korea. This underdiagnosis and underreporting of occupational illnesses and injuries subsequently contribute to difficulties in performing effective control of occupational hazards and implementing intervention programs to protect workers. An Inchon model for an occupational disease surveillance system was constructed using multiple data sources. Available data were obtained from medical providers' reports, hospital medical records, medical examination data of employees, and environmental measurement data. This Jnchon model was constructed with the following procedure: 1. assembled multidisciplinary staff 2. geographic targeting was to Inchon 3. established community liaison 4. collected related data to establish the magnitude of problem 5. selected, recruited, and trained case reporters 6. developed mechanisms and guidelines for reporting 7. received, screened, and prioritized case reports 8. analyzed data from case reports and field investigations 9. made and disseminated recommendations 10. evaluated the feasibility of the system. An information system based on the Internet for the occupational disease surveillance was also constructed to support the case reporting of occupational diseases. 133 cases of occupational diseases were collected in Inchon from 1 January to 31 December 1998. These cases included cumulative traumatic disorder, occupational asthma, occupational contact dermatitis, allergic pneumonitis, occupational cancer, noise-induced hearing loss, and pneumoconiosis. These data were different from the previously reported data The occurrence pattern of occupational diseases obtained from this surveillance system will be useful for preventing occupational hazards and for enforcing occupational disease prevention programs. Our experiences in establishing this surveillance system may be also used in other regional settings.

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