Research in Community and Public Health Nursing

Original Articles

[English] Subjective Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Women Workers: Mee Young Gee, Jung Soon Moon; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2007;18(4):634-642. Published online December 31, 2007

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
To investigate subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders in women workers.
METHOD
From February to April, 2006, 292 women workers working in 16 companies were surveyed using KOSHA CODE (H-30-2003).
RESULT
Of the workers, 84.0% had at least one musculoskeletal disorder. The mean score of the severity of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms was 7.41 out of 25. As for the prevalence rate by body part, shoulder was the most common and severe body part of musculoskeletal disorders, and significant differences were shown in neck, shoulder, and lower limb according to the type of working. The severity of married workers was significantly higher than that of unmarried ones. Significant difference was shown in the severity of disorders by the type of working and in body parts according to the type of working.
CONCLUSION
The self-reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders were very frequent in women workers, but the severity of the symptoms was relatively low, suggesting the early symptoms of disorders. Specifically, given the highly frequent self-reported symptoms in the shoulder part found in married women workers, intensive prevention is recommended. Furthermore, an ergonomic aspect should be concerned to consider physical characteristics of women workers.

[English] The Development of a Structural Model on Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of Women Workers: Souk Young Kim; J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs. 2007;18(4):624-633. Published online December 31, 2007

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to develop and test a structural model on work-related musculoskeletal disorders of women workers.
METHOD
Data were collected from 237 women workers from industries such as electronics, food production and garment production, and analyzed by LISREL 8.54.
RESULT
The fitness indices of the model are GFI=.87, NNFI=.91, PNFI=.74. Eight out of the ten paths were proved to be statistically significant: work environment-->social support, work environment-->health behavior, work environment-->WMSDs, domestic work-->health behavior, social support-->health behavior, social support-->job satisfaction, health behavior-->job satisfaction, and job satisfaction-->WMSDs. Work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction significantly influenced WRMDs. WRMDs were accounted for 35% by the predictor variables.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this study identifies that work environment, social support, health behavior and job satisfaction are important factors affecting WMSDs. Therefore, in order to prevent WRMDs, it is most important to improve both physical work environment for female workers such as appropriate work station and tools fit for them and psychological environment such as less job demand and more decision latitude(worker control).

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