• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.89-112
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• 2000

Although dental laboratory technicians are prone to be exposed to various work-related health hazardous materials such as dusts, chemicals, etc., the prevalence and nature of work-related health problems of them have not been a matter of great concern in the field of occupational health service in Korea. The purpose of the present investigation was to describe a collected profile of subjective health symptoms and their attributable factors in Korean dental laboratory technicians. A questionnaire listing five groups of health symptoms and five health symptom-related factors was mailed to randomly selected 1,900 dental laboratory technicians. Among them, 1,344 dental laboratory technicians filled out the questionnaires and returnde them. Five groups of health symptoms included musculoskeletal symptom, dermal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, eys symptoms, and ear symptoms. Five health symptom-related factors were occupational environment-related health risk factors, work history, health related habits and status, use of personal protective equipment and general characteristics. Detailed parameters of health risk factors were work posture, vibration, and chemical or physical hazards such as dust, fume, vapor, solvent, light, and noise for occupational environment-related factors; work place, area, number of employees, work hours, career, work part, and work load for work history; Broca's index, hours of sleep, eating, smoking, alcohol, exercise, health examination, and self assessed health status for health habits and status; face masks, goggles, and so on for use of personal protective equipment, and; age, sex, marital status, and education for general characteristics. Before the start of main survey, a pilot survey was carried out for validity and reliability tests of the questionnaire. All the data obtained were coded and analyzed with PC/SAS 6.12 program. The prevalence of health symptoms was the highest in musculoskelton (87.3%), and followde by eyes (78.9%), respiratory organs (64.3%), ears (57.8%), and skin (52.2%) in descending order. Statistically significant risk factors by multiple logistic regression analyses were sex, health examination, self assessed health status, and hand/finger posture in musculoskeletal symptoms; sex, self assessed health status, career, acid gas, and hand contact with resin mixture in deraml symptoms; Broka's smoking, exercise, self assessed health status, and face mask in respiratory symptoms; sex, hours of sleep, self assessed health status, work hours, work load, plaster dust, inadequate lighting, and goggle in eys symptoms, and eating, smoking, self assessed health status, and work load in ear symptoms. With the above considerations in mind, prevalence of subjective symptoms among Korean dental laboratory technicians was relatively high, and they were attributable to most of the occupational environment-related factors, work history, use of personal protective equipment, health habits and status, and general characteristics. Particularly, it is suggested that health promotion programs for promoting self- assessed health status and smoking cessation, preventive measures for protection of the female technicians’health, and reducing work load be necessary, since those factors were associated with more than one subjective symptom.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.179-188
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• 2017

Objectives : This study tried to examine whether there is any difference between the middle-aged men and women in terms of the effect of health-related and oral health-related characteristics on their depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). Methods : We used the 2nd year data of the 6th session of the National Health and Nutrition Survey of 2,008 adults(aged40~64 years) for fulfilling the research objectives. Results : The analysis showed that among middle-aged male and female respondents, household income, subjective health conditions, and stress perception among health-related characteristics had common elements affecting their depressive symptoms. The self-reported oral health conditions affected depressive symptoms for male respondents. On the other hand, chewing problems and contraction of periodontal disease affected depressive symptoms of female respondents. Conclusions : Thus, it is necessary to consider the effect of sex in the relationship between health-related and oral health-related characteristics, and to make efforts to develop differential programs to manage and prevent depressive symptoms among men and women.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.409-420
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• 2018

Objectives: An outbreak of humidifier disinfectant-related respiratory disease has not only been a massive disaster for end users, but it is also a concern for the workers of the manufacturers. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey on the health effects among workers involved in the manufacture of humidifier disinfectants. Methods: Seven sites where humidifier disinfectants were manufactured were identified. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the physical symptoms experienced by workers related to humidifier disinfectants. Among a total of 177 workers, 42 subjects were available for the survey. Results: Twenty-one of the 42 respondents reported that they experienced respiratory or skin and mucosal irritation symptoms during work. Of the respondents who experienced symptoms, 14 believed that their symptoms were related to the work process and reported that the symptoms were experienced while working. However, no respondents reported ongoing symptoms or sequelae during the investigation period, and this result could not minimize selection bias due to low response rates. We then compared the characteristics of the group who experienced suspicious symptoms with those of the group without any symptoms. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: We could not find significant health effects related to the humidifier disinfectant manufacturing process, although 21 respondents experienced stimulant symptoms and 14 respondents believed that the symptoms were related to the work process. Due to the long period of time after occupational exposure and the lack of data, there were many limitations to this study. However, this is one of the few follow-up investigations of workers related to this large-scale disaster in South Korea and the limitations of this study highlight the need to follow up with a nationwide database rather than an occasional survey.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.371-384
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to gingival symptoms by mental health factors among the adolescents in Korea. Methods: The data were used which were collected from the web-based survey of the National 2016 Korean Youth Risk Behavior of Korean Center for Disease Control. The study sample comprised of 65,528 adolescents in middle- and high schools. Data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 20.0 and multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors related to gingival symptoms by mental health factors. Results: The relationship between mental health factors and gingival symptoms were examined. And, subject characteristics about gingival symptoms were identified to be significant factors such as gender, grade, economic level, smoking and drinking status in all poor mental health groups. The number of brushing per day was related to the gingival symptoms for both good mental health groups and poor mental health groups. Conclusions: Mental health, characteristics, health behaviors of the adolescents should be considered when establishing the policies and institutions to improve oral health targeted adolescents.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

Background: Assembly lines work is frequently associated to work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. The related disability and absenteeism make it important to implement efficient health surveillance systems. The main objective of this study was to identify self-reported variables that can determine work-related upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms-discomfort/pain-during a 6-month follow-up. Methods: This was a prospective study with a 6-month follow-up period, performed in an assembly line. Upper limb musculoskeletal discomfort/pain was assessed through the presence of self-reported symptoms. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate which self-reported variables were associated to upper limb symptoms after 6 months at the present and to upper limbs symptoms in the past month. Results: Of the 200 workers at baseline, 145 replied to the survey after 6 months. For both outcomes, "having upper limb symptoms during the previous 6 months" and "education" were possible predictors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that having previous upper limb symptoms was related to its maintenance after 6 months, sustaining it as a specific determinant. It can be a hypothesis that this population had mainly workers with chronic symptoms, although our results give only limited support to self-reported indicators as determinants for upper limb symptoms. Nevertheless, the development of an efficient health surveillance system for high demanding jobs should implicate self-reported indicators, but also clinical and work conditions assessment should be accounted on the future.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2018

Purpose: To determine effects of job-seeking stress on perimenstrual symptoms of female college students with health and non-health related majors and mediating effects of stress coping styles. Methods: Data were collected from 189 female college students who were juniors or seniors. This study was conducted using questionnaires on job-seeking stress, perimenstrual symptoms, and stress coping styles. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS, version 23.0. Mediation analysis was performed according to the Baron and Kenny method and Sobel test. Results: Job-seeking stress was significantly and positively correlated with perimenstrual symptoms in non-health college students. Passive stress coping styles demonstrated a complete mediating effect on the relationship between job-seeking stress and perimenstrual symptoms of those with non-health related majors (${\beta}=0.31$, p=.002). Such effect was significant (Sobel test; Z=2.06, p=.039). Conclusion: Effects of job-seeking stress on perimenstrual symptoms were mediated by passive stress coping styles of non-health related major students. Based on findings of this study, effective stress cope strategies should be developed considering characteristics of majors to manage perimenstrual symptoms of female college students with high job-seeking stress.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-65
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• 2017

Objectives: This paper aims to identify depressive or stress related symptoms and its associated risk and protective factors among marriage immigrant women in Korea. Methods: The study participants were 490 immigrant wives from '2012 Survey of Foreign Residents in Korea'. The participants completed self-administered questionnaires on socio-demographics, health status, family members' related factors, and other environmental factors. Results: Difficulties on child nursing, finance, family conflict, and experience of physical or verbal violence were significant risk variables to the depressive stress related symptoms. Family life satisfaction, discussion about troubles with Koreans, healthy status, social trust, and discussion about troubles with people from home country were the significant protective variables to mental health. However economic activities were not protective factors but risk factors. Conclusions: Mental Health promotion programs for marriage immigrant women and their family members need to consider the family and community related protective mental health factors and develop supportive system with pre-existing programs and policy modification.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify relations among health behaviors, health symptoms and physical fitness of people in the same community. Method: The study was designed as a descriptive survey and the participants were 1,621 healthy people. Data were collected from March to December, 2003 using a structured questionnaire on health behaviors, health symptoms and physical fitness. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $\chi^2$-test, t-test, two-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression using SPSS/PC. Results: The result of multiple regression showed that sex, age, and BMI were related to physical fitness. In health-related physical fitness, regular exercise was related to cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility, and daily caffeine intake was related to muscular endurance. In performance-related physical fitness, having breakfast regularly was related to power, daily caffeine intake was related to agility, and regular lifestyle and health symptoms were related to balance. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study suggests that for better physical fitness, nursing strategies and intervention programs should include physical fitness-related factors, and education programs should be developed based on the above parameters to promote positive perception of physical fitness.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect subjective symptoms of malocclusion has on the patient's quality of life related to oral health. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted on adults aged 20 years, with a total of 308 copies of the response sheets analyzed. Results: The degree of subjective symptoms of malocclusion was highest in the group of those in their 20s when looked at across different age groups, and those who had a final education of middle school. In addition, the quality of life related to oral health was the highest in middle school graduates and among those in Gyeonggi province. The degree of malocclusion symptom according to oral health behavior was highest in 1-2 weeks of drinking when smoking in a smoking state, and quality of life related to oral health was higher in smokers than in non-smokers. The greater the subjective symptoms of malocclusion, the lower the quality of life related to oral health. Conclusions: It was found that the subjective symptoms of malocclusion decreased quality of life related to oral health. As such, quality of life related to oral health can be improved through aesthetic and functional improvement efforts to decrease the subjective symptoms of malocclusion.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2009

In this study, recognized building-related health symptoms of various workers in dental college hospitals are surveyed and analyzed in order to improve indoor environment at dental college hospitals. We conducted a questionnaire survey for 682 workers in three dental college hospitals located in Seoul from Sep. 20 to Oct. 8, 2004. Most workers at dental hospitals complained about noise, poor ventilation, dusty environment, and air dryness. SBS symptoms score for subjects was 1.43${\pm}$0.74 (often feel) and major symptoms was throat, CNS, eye, and nose symptoms. Recognized Building-related health symptoms are significantly related to tasks, working experience, job-satisfaction, indoor environment recognition index, medical history, used to special material, and number of dental unit chair. Also working places and ventilation are significantly related to the symptom. Based on the results, it can be said that special dental treatment causes undesirable environment such as noise, dust, and bad odor. It is also related to recognized building related health symptoms reported by workers at dental hospitals. So managemental efforts are needed to improve indoor environment which is related by dental treatment.