Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Articles

Change on Lens Accomodation and Pupil Light Reflex in VDT works.: Euna Kim, Yang Ho Kim, Young Woo Jin, Chang Ho Chai, Yong Hyu Choi, Young Hahan Moon; Korean J Prev Med. 1997;30(3):599-608.

2,114 View
26 Download

Abstract PDF: We studied on change of lens accommodation and pupil light reflex caused by VDT work in six women and compared them with those of other office works. The results were as follows. 1. In VDT work group, the accommodation contraction velocity decreased during the first 2-hr VDT task, then recovered markedly by the end of the one-hour lunch break, and then decreased again by the end of the 2nd 2-hr VDT task. Changes of relaxation velocity showed similar pattern although it was less typical than that of contraction velocity. 2. There was no marked change in accommodation contraction velocity and amplitude of accommodation in general office work group and near-distance office work group, and in the near-distance office work accommodation relaxation velocity decreased according to work load without recovery after lunch break. 3. Initial pupil diameter, initial pupil area of light reflex decreased significantly during VDT task only in VDT work group, and didn't recover after lunch break. These results suggest possibility that changes of accommodation contraction velocity, accommodation relaxation velocity, near point distance, and pupil diameter and area are useful in evaluating characteristics of VDT work. For this, more research adjusted individual differences, circadian rhythm, emotional stress needs.; Summary

A Study on the Relationship between Subjective symptoms and Psychological Symptoms on some VDT workers.: Jeong Il Son, Soo Jin Lee, Jaecheol Song, Hung Bae Park; Korean J Prev Med. 1995;28(2):433-449.

2,150 View
23 Download

Abstract PDF: The study subjects in this study are 295 workers who work on one electronics industry, and they were composed of 93 VDT and 202 non-VDT workers. This study was carried out to obtain the prevalence of subjective symptoms and to compare psychological symptom scores from SCL-90-R between VDT and non-VDT work groups. And to verify the relationship between VDT work related symptoms and psychological symptoms, the author compared scL-90-R T scores between symptom complaining and non-complaining groups. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Throughout the prevalence study of VDT work related symptoms according to VDT work state, the author could select the final 10 symptoms by sex; 'eye fatigue', 'foggy vision', 'neck discomfort or pain'. 'shoulder discomfort and pain', 'light headedness', 'dizziness', 'aene`, 'itching sensation on face', 'difficulty in concentration', 'memory disturbance' in males, and 'blurred vision`, 'foggy vision', 'neck discomfort or pain', 'shoulder discomfort and pain`, 'abdominal distention','indigestion', 'acne', 'pricking sensation on face', 'difficulty in concentration', 'memory disturbance` in females. 2. Throughout comparison of psychological symptom scores from SCL-90-R between VDT and non-VDT workers' except `interpersonal sensitivity` in female, Mean T score were higher in VDT workers, but not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that the relation between VDT work status and psychological symptoms are not strongly correlated. 3. Because of the nonspecific characteristics of VDT work related symptoms, from the 40 subjective symptoms, the author selected the final 10 symptoms by sex, especially correlated to VDT, and divided the study subjects into symptom complaining and non-complaining groups. The mean SCL-90-R T score between the two groups were compared. Except for the opthalmologic symptoms in females, the scores were significantly different between the two groups in all symptoms. And this indicates that the VDT work related symptoms strongly correlated with the present individual psychological conditions. 4. Due to understand that which of the 9 psychological symptom dimensions are strongly correlated with the subjective symptoms, the author excuted multiple logistic regression analysis, and the result were as follows; 'depression' and 'somatization', in male, and 'obsessive-compulsive' and 'somatization' in female.; Summary

The Effect of VDT Work on Vision and Eye Symptoms among Workers in a TV Manufacturing Plant.: Kuck Hyeun Woo, Jung Han Park, Gwang Seo Choi, Young Yeon Jung, Jong Hyeob Lee, Gu Wung Han; Korean J Prev Med. 1992;25(3):247-268.

2,066 View
28 Download

Abstract PDF: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of VDT work on eyes and vision among workers in a TV manufacturing plant. The study subjects consisted of 264 screen workers and 74 non-screen workers who were less than 40 years old male and had no history of opthalmic diseases such as corneal opacities, trauma, keratitis, etc and whose visual acuity on pre-employment health examination by Han's test chart was 1.0 or above. The screen workers were divided into two groups by actual time for screen work in a day; Group 1, 60 workers, lesser than 4 hours a day and group 11, 204 workers, more than 4 hours a day. From July to October 1992 a questionnaire was administered to all the study subjects for the general charateristics and subjective eye symptoms after which the opthalmologic tests such as visual acuity, spherical equivalent, lacrimal function, ocular pressure, slit lamp test, fundoscopy were conducted by one opthalmologist. The proportion of workers whose present visual acuity was decreased more than 0. 15 in comparison with that on the pre-employment health examination by Han's test chart was 20.6% in Group Ii, 15.0% in Group I and 14.9% in non-screen workers. However, the differences in proportion were not statistically significant. The proportion of workers with decreased visual acuity was not associated with the age, working duration, use of magnifying glass and type of shift work (independent variables) in all of the three groups. However, screen workers working under poor illumination had a higher proportion of persons with decreased visual acuity than those working under adequate illumination (P<0.05). The proportion of workers whose near vision was decreased was 27.5% in Group II, 18.3% in Group I, and 28.4% in non-screen workers and these differences in proportion were not statistically significant. Changes of near vision were not associated with 4 independent variables in all of the three groups. Six out of sever-subjective eye symptoms except tearing were more common in Group I than in non-screen workers and more common in Group II than in Group I (P<0.01). Mean of the total scores for seven subjective symptoms of each worker (2 points for always, 1 point for sometimes, 0 point for never) was not significantly different between workers with decreased visual acuity and workers with no vision change. However, mean of the total scores for Group II was higher than those for the Group I and non-screen workers (P < 0. 01). Total eye symptom scores were significantly correlated with the grade of screen work, use of magnifying glass, and type of shift work. There was no independent variable which was correlated with the difference in visual acuity between the pre-employment health examination and the present state, the difference between far and near visions, lacrimal function, ocular pressure, and spherical equivalent. Multiple linear regression analysis for the subjective eye symptom scores revealed a positive linear relationship with actual time for screen work and shift work(P<0.01). In this study it was not observed that the VDT work decreased visual acuity but it induces subjective eye symptoms such as eye fatigue, blurred vision, ocular discomfort, etc. Maintenance of adequate illumination in the, work place and control of excessive VDT work are recommended to prevent such eye symptoms.; Summary

Industrial fatigue due to banking operations with VDT.: Jung Wan Koo, Seung Han Lee; Korean J Prev Med. 1991;24(3):305-313.

2,010 View
26 Download

Abstract PDF: In order to investigated industrial fatigue due to visual display terminal (VDT) work of banking operations, the questionnaires survey for subjective symptoms of fatigue was carried out on 470 bank clerks who had been engaged in VDT work for various length of work hours. The questionnaires comprised three groups of 10 items each, representing dullness and sleepiness (level of cerebral activation), difficulty in concentration (level of motivation) and bodily projection of fatigue. The results were as follows: 1. Of the 30 items of questionnaires, the highest percentage was accounted for by 'eye strain' (51.5%), followed by 'feel stiffness in the neck or the shoulders' (33.4%), 'feel a pain in the low back' (26.8%), 'whole body feels tired' (19.6%) and 'feel headache' (17.9%) in the order of sequence. 2. Ten average weighted score for the first group of questionnaire items (dullness and sleepiness) was the largest among three groups and was followed by the third group (bodily projection of fatigue) and the second item group (difficulty in concentration) in the order of sequence, suggesting the heavier mental stress of VDT work in banking operations rather than physical burden. 3. In terms of the age and sex of workers, work duration and VDT work percentage, the difference in average weighted score was noted only between sex, the score of female being larger than that of male. 4. The complaint rates of subjective symptoms showed close associations with the subjective optimums of room temperature, ventilation, illumination and noise level. 5. The significant correlation was showed between age, work duration and item of 'whole body feels tired', between VDT work percentage and items of 'eye strain' and 'feel stiffness in the neck or shoulders' and between all items of subjective symptoms.; Summary

English Abstract

Fatigue Subjective Symptoms and Risk Factors in Bank Workers with VDT.: Joo Ja Kim, Kyung Jae Lee; J Prev Med Public Health. 2005;38(1):45-52.

2,406 View
41 Download

Abstract PDF: OBJECTIVES
To investigate the fatigue subjective symptoms and VDT related risk factors in bank workers. METHODS: A total of 2178 workers (62.8% male, 37.2% female) were surveyed with a self-administered and structured questionnaire consisting of 30 fatigue symptoms and other VDT related factors regarding work characteristics, work postures, work environments, personal medical histories, etc. Fatigue subjective symptoms were divided into 3 groups of 10 questions each: a dull, drowsy and exhausted feeling (Group I), a mental decline of working motivation (Group II), or a feeling of incongruity in the body and dysfunction of autonomic nervous system (Group III). Each question was weighted as 0 for 'none', 1 for 'sometimes', and 2 for 'always'. RESULTS: Mean age was 35.8+/-7.2 years (38.9+/-6.0 in males, 30.6+/-5.8 in females), Mean work duration was 7.7+/-7.1 years (8.4+/-7.4 in males, 6.5+/-6.4 in females). Mean symptom score in males was 11.0+/-8.1 (4.9+/-3.1 in Group I, 3.0+/-3.1 in Group II, 3.1+/-2.8 in Group III) and in females was 17.5+/-9.5 (7.0+/-3.8 in Group I, 4.6+/-3.5 in Group II, 5.9+/-3.4 in Group III). Mean scores were higher in the order of Group I> III> II. Females had significantly higher scores than males in all three groups (p< 0.001). Most common symptoms complained of as 'always' or 'sometimes' were 'feel strained in the eyes' (85.4%) among Group I, 'find difficulty in thinking' (54.2%) among Group II, and 'feel stiff in the shoulders' (72.3%) among Group III. In multiple regression analysis, female, non-straight spine at workstation, more VDT work hours, history of physical therapy, glare of screen, overtime work, young age, and non-horizontal elbow position were significantly related with high score of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: More supportive VDT work environment and education for correct work postures for VDT workers are recommended.; Summary

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search