Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2013 Nov;22(4):324-333.

Effects of Providing Health Education to Workers for the Management of Liver Disease Screened by Periodic Health Surveys

• Lee MR
• Kim JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to compare the changes in the levels of liver enzymes after providing health education to workers.
METHODS
Among 909 electronics-manufacturing workers, 96 (10.6%) workers had abnormal liver functions. Of these, male workers were randomly assigned into either the health education experimental group (48 [52.2%]) or the control group (44 [47.8%]). Depending on the level of participation in the health education, workers in the experimental group were classified into the participation (32 [34.8%]) and non-participation groups (16 [17.4%]). Changes in the levels of liver enzymes were compared among three groups.
RESULTS
The changes in the levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase (r-GTP) in the participation, non-participation, and control groups were -25.3+/-54.5 IU/L, -4.4+/-24.1 IU/L, and -5.3+/-38.8 IU/L, respectively (p=.036). Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, waist circumference, body mass index, daily alcohol consumption, weekly exercise, and changes in smoking habits in the 3 groups did not differ significantly. In the multiple linear regression analysis, the variable of education participation revealed a significant regression coefficient of -25.10 when the change in r-GTP levels was the dependent variable.
CONCLUSION
A brief health education targeted towards the management of liver disease among workers improved r-GTP levels.

Keyword

Health education; Liver; Health behaviour; Gamma-glutamyltransferase

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alcohol Drinking
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Body Mass Index
Education
gamma-Glutamyltransferase
Health Education*
Health Surveys*
Humans
Linear Models
Liver Diseases*
Liver*
Male
Smoke
Smoking
Waist Circumference
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Smoke
gamma-Glutamyltransferase