The Relationship between Workplace Environment and Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, is recognized as an important health problem. OBJECTIVE: To investigated whether the workplace environment was associated with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study using medical records and workplace environment reports of 1297 blue-collar Korean male workers who exposed to work hazards in one workplace. The metabolic syndrome was confirmed using the NCEP ATP III. The workplace environment was classified into organic compounds, metals, acids and bases, metalworking fluid, dust, noise and shift worker. RESULTS: Among the total subjects, 257 (19.8%) had metabolic syndrome. Age, BMI, current smoking status, and at risk alcohol drinking were found to be significant predictors of metabolic syndrome. In seven workplace environment categories, the odds ratio (OR) of metabolic syndrome increased 1.785 (95% CI 1.058 to 3.013) times in the metalworking fluid environment. CONCLUSION: The workplace environment, especially metalworking fluid is associated with metabolic syndrome.

Perception and performance of preventive behaviors for the pandemic influenza in hospital employees and outpatients.

PURPOSE: A new strain of the H1N1 subtype of influenza A virus resulted in a pandemic outbreak. In South Korea, cases of pandemic influenza have increased. Therefore, we explored perception or preventive behaviors for this virus in hospital employees and outpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected from hospital employees and outpatients at three university hospitals located in Daegu, Gyeongju in South Korea between the 21st and 30th of September, 2009 using a self-administrated questionnaire. We estimated perception by components of The Health Belief Model (HBM), preventive behaviors consisted of avoidance behaviors, and the recommended behaviors by the Korea Center of Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Desire for vaccination was identified. RESULTS: The 1,837 participants comprised hospital employees (n = 880, 47.9%) and outpatients (n = 957, 52.1%). Of all hospital employees, 491 (55.8%) and 708 (80.5%) perceived susceptibility of the pandemic influenza and benefits of the preventive behaviors, respectively. Among all outpatients, 490 (51.2%) and 651 (68.0%) perceived susceptibility of the pandemic influenza and benefits of the preventive behaviors, respectively. Recommended preventative behaviors were adopted by 674 (76.6%) of hospital employees and 631 (65.9%) of outpatients. Vaccination was desired by 479 (54.4%) of hospital employees and 484 (50.6%) of outpatients. Factors influencing preventative behaviors included gender, economic status (for hospital employees) and educational level (for outpatients). All HBM components except perception of barriers were associated with the preventive behaviors in both groups. CONCLUSION: The majority of the surveyed hospital employees and outpatients perceived the benefits of preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza and performed them.

Relationship between the Content of the Medical Knowledge Written Examination and Clinical Skill Score in Medical Students.

PURPOSE: This study was planned to investigate which medical knowledge examination score-written examination on basic medicine, individual clinical medicine, and comprehensive clinical medicine-was closely related to clinical skill score in medical students. METHODS: Scores on basic medicine, clinical medicine, graduation assessment, clinical performance examination (CPX), and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for 106 students who graduated Dongguk University Medical School from 2010 to 2011 were included, and correlations between them were analyzed using T scores. RESULTS: All scores of basic medicine, clinical medicine, graduation assessment, CPX, and OSCE correlated significantly with each other. In connection with clinical skill, graduation assessment score showed a strong correlation (r=0.547, p<0.001) with the CPX. Regarding detailed scores on the CPX, history taking score correlated significantly with medical knowledge examination scores (r=0.435~0.406, p<0.001). By regression analysis, the score on graduation assessment was 1 point higher, and that of the CPX increased by 0.538 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our study, comprehensive clinical knowledge is required for medical students to gain the appropriate clinical skills. Therefore, clinical skill practice and lectures that are based on the level of comprehensive clinical knowledge are recommended in the education of clinical skills in medical students.