Ann Occup Environ Med.  2018 ;30(1):19. 10.1186/s40557-018-0225-0.

The association between Korean employed workers' on-call work and health problems, injuries

• Baek C
• Park JB
• Lee K
• Jung J

• KMID: 2428580
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0225-0

Abstract

BACKGROUND
On-call work is a form of work that requires the person to work at any time during the on-call period. Thus, on-call work is often regarded as one of the most severe stress factors. This study investigates the associations between on-call work and health problems, injuries.
METHODS
This study was based on the 3rd Korean Working Conditions Survey. Total of 29,246 employed workers who had been working for at least 1 year were included. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between on-call work and health problems, injuries.
RESULTS
The odds ratios for on-call workers in terms of physical health problems, psychological health problems, and injuries were 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.44), 1.31 (95% CI 1.08-1.60), and 2.76 (95% CI 2.26-3.37), respectively. Analysis of the detailed symptoms revealed odds ratios in on-call workers of 2.06 for hearing problems (95% CI 1.63-2.62); 1.71 for skin problems (95% CI 1.38-2.12); 1.22 for back pain (95% CI 1.08-1.38); 1.23 for muscular pains in upper limbs (95% CI 1.12-1.34); 1.27 for muscular pains in lower limbs (95% CI 1.15-1.40); 1.46 for headache, eye fatigue (95% CI 1.32-1.60); 1.37 for abdominal pain (95% CI 1.02-1.85); 1.43 for depression or anxiety disorders (95% CI 1.07-1.93); 1.36 for fatigue (95% CI 1.24-1.49); and 1.41 for insomnia and general sleep difficulties (95% CI 1.13-1.76).
CONCLUSIONS
The present study found that on-call work results in an increased risk of health problems and injuries. This study is the result of analyses of broad range of the job spectrum in Korean employed workers; thus, future studies are necessary to determine the effects of on-call work in various job groups.

Keyword

On-call work; Health problems; Injuries; Korean working conditions survey; Broad range of the job spectrum

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Anxiety Disorders
Asthenopia
Back Pain
Depression
Fatigue
Headache
Hearing
Humans
Logistic Models
Lower Extremity
Odds Ratio
Skin
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Upper Extremity