Changes in Income after an Industrial Accident According to Industry and Return-to-Work Status.

To investigate changes in the incomes of workers, particularly those in the construction sector, who experienced industrial accidents according to their status of return to work. We used data from the fifth Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare annual differential incomes before and after the industrial accident, and a linear mixed model was used to investigate the changes in income from before to after the industrial accident according to the industry and return-to-work status.

Association between the return-to-work hierarchy and self-rated health, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine whether change of employer and/or job upon return-to-work after work-related injuries and diseases is related to health outcomes; self-rated health, self-esteem, and self-efficacy were used as indicators.

Methods: Data from the Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance in Korea were used. A total of 1,610 workers who had returned to work after work-related injuries and diseases were included.

Irregular work schedule and sleep disturbance in occupational drivers-A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between irregular work schedules and sleep disturbance and compare the impacts of work schedule on sleep disturbance between occupational drivers and office workers.

Methods: Using data from the 3rd and 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey, 3,070 occupational drivers and 9,898 office workers were included in this study. The subjects' days of night work, evening work, and subjective complaints of sleep disturbance were investigated along with other covariates.

Income Changes Due to Disability Ratings and Participation in Economic Activities Caused by Industrial Accidents: A Population-Based Study of Data from the Fourth Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance (PSWCI).

Industrial accidents cost a huge amount of money, but they also have negative consequences in many respects. We analyzed the data of the first to fourth panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the annual income before and after the industrial accident, and a general linear model was used to identify changes in income due to disability ratings and participation in economic activities.

Evaluation of PM, CO, airborne bacteria, TVOCs, and formaldehyde in facilities for susceptible populations in South Korea.

Poor indoor air quality can have adverse effects on human health, especially in susceptible populations; however, few studies have measured multiple pollutants in facilities for susceptible populations at a national scale in South Korea. Therefore, we measured the concentrations of indoor pollutants (fine particulate matter (PM), CO, airborne bacteria (AB), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and formaldehyde) to determine their possible relation to other indoor environmental factors and characteristics of facilities with susceptible populations, such as hospitals, geriatric hospitals, elderly care facilities, and postnatal care centers throughout South Korea. Indoor pollutants were sampled at 82 indoor facilities, including 62 facilities for susceptible populations.

Predictors and estimation of risk for early exit from working life by poor health among middle and older aged workers in Korea.

The aims of this study were to investigate the predictors and estimate the risk for early exit from work owing to poor personal health status of the retirees. This study analysed the longitudinal data of 2,708 workers aged more than 45 years old from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the predictors and to build a prediction model for early exit from work due to poor health.

Relationship Between Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke in the Workplace and Occupational Injury in the Republic of Korea.

Background: Most studies in the field of smoking exposure in the workplace linked to occupational safety have only focused on active smoking. Few studies have reported that exposure to second-hand smoke in the workplace is a possible factor increasing the risk of occupational injury without considering occupational characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the association between occupational injury and level of exposure to second-hand smoke at the workplace among Korean workers, after taking into account occupational characteristics.

Impacts of Return-to-Work Type and Period on Job Retention in Workers with Occupational Injuries and Diseases.

Background: Despite the necessity of job retention in achieving return-to-work (RTW) goals, many workers leave their jobs after returning to work. The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of RTW type and period on job retention in Korean workers with occupational injuries and diseases.

Methods: Data were derived from the Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance, including data from 2,000 systemically sampled workers who had finished recuperation in 2012; three waves of survey data were included in the analyses.

Relationship between long working hours and periodontitis among the Korean workers.

We aimed to investigate the association between long working hours and periodontitis, and whether such an association constitutes an exposure-response relationship. Data for this study were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 2007 to 2014; 17,533 workers (9,483 of men and 8,050 of women) were included. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the analysis of periodontitis defined as positive of Community Periodontal Index in relation to working hours were calculated using multiple logistic regression models with various stratifications.

The relationship between occupational noise and vibration exposure and headache/eyestrain, based on the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS).

Introduction: The individual and combined effect of occupational noise and vibration exposures, on workers' health has not been thoroughly investigated. In order to find better ways to prevent and manage workers' headache, this study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational noise and vibration exposure on headache/eyestrain.

Methods: We used data from the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (2014).

The Association between Involuntary Smoking Exposure with Urine Cotinine Level and Blood Cadmium Level in General Non-Smoking Populations.

Unintentional environmental exposure to toxicants is associated with an aggravated health status of the general population. Involuntary smoking (IS) exposure is one of the main routes to involuntary toxicants exposure. However, few studies have attempted to understand the environmental cadmium exposure by IS exposure in the general, non-smoking population.

Symptoms of Nervous System Related Disorders Among Workers Exposed to Occupational Noise and Vibration in Korea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between vibration and noise exposure in the workplace and certain nervous system related symptoms (NSRS) among Korean workers.

Methods: Using data from the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey, we investigated the influence of vibration and noise with three categories; none, mild, and severe, on sleep disturbance, overall fatigue, and headache/eye strain using logistic regression analysis with stratification by personal protective equipment (PPE) wearing status.

Results: Severe noise/vibration exposure was associated in a dose-response fashion with NSRS; the odds ratios (ORs) for sleep disturbance, headache/eyestrain, and overall fatigue were 1.

The Association between Osteoarthritis and Occupational Clusters in the Korean Population: A Nationwide Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a considerable health problem worldwide. It is known to be associated with certain occupational risk factors. We examined the prevalence rate of OA by occupational cluster.

The risk of occupational injury increased according to severity of noise exposure after controlling for occupational environment status in Korea.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between noise exposure and risk of occupational injury.

Materials And Methods: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for the current study. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate occupational injury and exposure to noise, chemicals, and machines and equipments.

Association between job stress and occupational injuries among Korean firefighters: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objective: We aimed to assess the nature of association between job stress and occupational injuries among firefighters in Korea.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: We conducted a nationwide survey using self-reported questionnaires in South Korea.

The association between subjective socioeconomic status and health inequity in victims of occupational accidents in Korea.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the health inequity of victims of occupational accidents through the association between socioeconomic status and unmet healthcare need.

Methods: Data from the first and second Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance were used, which included 1,803 participants. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for the unmet healthcare needs of participants with a lower socioeconomic status and other socioeconomic statuses were investigated using multivariate regression analysis.

Decreased concentration of serum melatonin in nighttime compared with daytime female medical technologists in South Korea.

Working during the night can disrupt the normal circadian rhythm by altering the melatonin level. A low level of melatonin is associated with an increased risk of cancer, possibly by decreasing the expression of tumor-suppressor genes, such as p53. To determine whether nighttime work is associated with melatonin level in serum as well as the expression of related genetic markers, we enrolled 100 female nighttime medical technologists employed at a hospital in South Korea.

Metabolic outcomes of workers according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations in Korea.

Background: Occupation influences the risk for developing chronic metabolic diseases.

Methods: We compared the prevalence of MetS by International Standard Classification of Occupations using the nationally representative data in Korea (KNHANES). We enrolled 16,763 workers (9,175 males; 7,588 females) who had measurements for the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria III and other variables.

The association between low blood lead levels and the prevalence of prehypertension among nonhypertensive adults in Korea.

Objectives: Low-level lead exposure has been associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and impairment of the cardiovascular system. Prehypertension is not categorized as a disease currently; however, individuals with untreated prehypertension are known to be at increased risk of progression to hypertension and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease. We investigated the association between blood lead levels below the threshold for the harmful effects of lead and the prevalence of prehypertension in Korean adults.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and occupational characteristics of police officers in Republic of Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: South Korean police officers have a greater workload compared to their counterparts in advanced countries. However, few studies have evaluated the occupational challenges that South Korean police officers face. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the police officer's job characteristics and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among South Korean police officers.

A dose-response relationship between long working hours and unmet need for access to hospital facilities.

Objectives: Lack of access to hospital facilities, indicating unmet healthcare need, plays an important role in health inequity in the workplace. We aimed to investigate the association between long working hours and unmet healthcare need.

Methods: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys collected during 2007-2012, which included 8369 participants (4765 males, 3604 females) aged 20-54 years, who were paid workers.

The Perceived Socioeconomic Status Is an Important Factor of Health Recovery for Victims of Occupational Accidents in Korea.

We aimed to examine whether there is a correlation between the health recovery of industrial accident victims and their perceived socioeconomic status. Data were obtained from the first Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance, which included 2,000 participants. We performed multivariate regression analysis and determined the odds ratios for participants with a subjectively lower socioeconomic status and for those with a subjectively lower middle socioeconomic status using 95% confidence intervals.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Substitute (Daeri) Drivers and Its Relationship to Depression in Korea.

Workplace violence is related to various health effects including mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In this study, the relationship between the experience of workplace violence and depression in substitute drivers in Korea, namely, daeri drivers, was investigated. To assess workplace violence, questions regarding types and frequency of the experience of violence over the past year were asked to the daeri drivers.

Factors related to the physician and the employer influencing successful return to work in Korea: results from the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI).

Objectives: This study aims to investigate associated factors including the physician and the employer of successful return to work (RTW) in occupationally injured workers.

Methods: This study is based on the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI), published in June 2014. The PSWCI is a sample survey of occupationally injured workers who completed medical care in 2012 (89,921 people).

Concealing Emotions at Work Is Associated with Allergic Rhinitis in Korea.

Concealing emotions at work can cause considerable psychological stress. While there is extensive research on the adverse health effects of concealing emotions and the association between allergic diseases and stress, research has not yet investigated whether concealing emotions at work is associated with allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in many industrialized countries, and its prevalence is increasing.