The socioeconomic status (SES) and health behaviors of workers are associated with the risks of developing obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other cardiovascular diseases. Herein, we investigated the factors influencing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk based on the SES of male and female workers. This cross-sectional analysis used the National Health Information Database to assess the associations between gender, SES (income level, residential area), health behaviors, and CVD-related health status of workers, through multinomial logistic regression. Upon analysis of a large volume of data on workers during 2016, the smoking and drinking trends of male and female workers were found to differ, causing different odds ratio (OR) tendencies of the CVD risk. Also, while for male workers, higher ORs of obesity or abdominal obesity were associated with higher incomes or residence in metropolitan cities, for female workers, they were associated with lower incomes or residence in rural areas. Additionally, among the factors influencing CVD risk, lower income and residence in rural areas were associated with higher CVD risk for male and female workers. The study findings imply the importance of developing gender-customized intervention programs to prevent CVD, due to gender-specific associations between CVD-related health status and health behaviors according to SES.

This study examined the influence of health behaviors and occupational stress on the prediabetic state of male office workers, and identified related risks and influencing factors. The study used a cross-sectional design and performed an integrative analysis on data from regular health checkups, health questionnaires, and a health behavior-related survey of employees of a company, using Spearman’s correlation coefficients and multiple logistic regression analysis. The results showed significant relationships of prediabetic state with health behaviors and occupational stress. Among health behaviors, a diet without vegetables and fruits (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.74, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.93–7.66) was associated with a high risk of prediabetic state. In the subscales on occupational stress, organizational system in the 4th quartile (OR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.40–9.70) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of prediabetic state. To identify influencing factors of prediabetic state, the multiple logistic regression was performed using regression models. The results showed that dietary habits (β = 1.20, p = 0.002), total occupational stress score (β = 1.33, p = 0.024), and organizational system (β = 1.13, p = 0.009) were significant influencing factors. The present findings indicate that active interventions are needed at workplace for the systematic and comprehensive management of health behaviors and occupational stress that influence prediabetic state of office workers.

This study attempts to develop and verify the effectiveness of a health promotion program for office workers based on the social ecological model and the World Health Organization’s Healthy Workplace Framework. This study involved 272 office workers of a small and medium-sized enterprise in Korea. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni correction using SPSS/WIN 23.0. Workplace environmental support was provided to all workers, while a 6-month intensive core program based on social support was implemented for the intensive management group. Based on the participation rate, individuals were divided into the core and dropout groups. In all office workers, there were negative changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and job stress during the period. Meanwhile, the intensive group showed significant changes in body mass index and diastolic blood pressure. The study suggests that the organization’s support for a healthy environment and an individual’s continued participation based on social support are essential for the effectiveness of a health promotion program for office workers.

This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid scale, i.e. the Heart-Healthy Information Questionnaire (HHIQ). The HHIQ was developed in three phases: (i) creating the item pool, (ii) conducting a preliminary evaluating the items, and (iii) refining the scale and evaluating psychometric properties. An initial item pool of 77 items with a 3-point True/False format with a ‘Don’t know’ option was extracted from the literature review and 54 items reached content validity. The psychometric properties of HHIQ were tested with 1315 individuals without cardiovascular disease. By using the exclusion criteria of the difficulty index (>0.95), discrimination index (<10.0), and item-total correlation (tetrachoric coefficient <0.2), 50 items were finally selected. The construct validity was determined by using the known-groups validation: Individuals (n = 107) who were educated with heart-healthy education sessions showed significantly higher scores of the HHIQ than those (n = 107) who were not educated (P = 0.015). The Kuder–Richardson formula 20 coefficient indicated good internal consistency (0.85), and the test–retest reliability coefficient with a 15-day interval also indicated good stability (0.78). A total score of the HHIQ was significantly correlated with a total score of the Evaluation Tool for Metabolic Syndrome Modification Lifestyles (ρ = 0.23, P < 0.001). The HHIQ showed good psychometric properties of validity and reliability and may be useful to evaluate the knowledge levels of heart-healthy information in the areas of cardiovascular disease prevention.

Objective: Cardio‐cerebrovascular disease is the major cause of work‐related deaths. Salutogenesis indicates individual differences in health levels occur owing to differences in the sense of coherence (SOC). A salutogenesis‐based intervention may promote cardio‐cerebrovascular health at work. This study examined the effects of a SOC promotion program based on salutogenesis.Design: Quasi‐experimental study.Sample: Fifty‐six office workers who were above the “low risk” of cardio‐cerebrovascular disease from two workplaces were included in the final analysis.Measurements: Data collected pre‐ and postintervention. To determine the intervention's effectiveness, repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used.Intervention: The intervention group was provided with the SOC promotion program, whereas the control group was provided with educational materials alone for 12 weeks.Results: Generalized resistance resources (GRRs; knowledge of cardio‐cerebrovascular disease prevention, stress‐coping strategies, and social support) and SOC significantly improved in the intervention group. The intervention group showed significant improvements in occupational stress, physical activity, dietary behavior, total cholesterol level, fasting glucose level, hemoglobin A1C level, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and cardio‐cerebrovascular risk.Conclusions: Systematic salutogenesis‐based SOC promotion programs should be established to enhance the cardio‐cerebrovascular health of office workers at‐risk of cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases.Trial Registration: Trial Registration Number is KCT0007029. The date of registration is February 23, 2022.

Introduction: Presenteeism is a significant issue among nurses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to high healthcare costs, impaired patient safety, and negative well-being. Given the global nursing shortage and the critical role nurses play in healthcare, addressing presenteeism is essential to maintaining quality care and organizational efficiency. Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the concept of presenteeism among nurses, the largest proportion of healthcare professionals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Walker and Avant's concept analysis procedure was adapted to clarify the conceptualization and operationalization of the concept. The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, PUBMED, EMBASE, and Research Information Sharing Service were systematically searched for the analysis. Results: Presenteeism among nurses during the pandemic was conceptualized as work impairment with a detachment of mind and body and disengagement among nurses when present at the workplace. The antecedents of presenteeism in nursing were health problems, worsened work conditions, risk of infection, and the uniqueness of the nursing culture. The consequences included work productivity loss and deterioration in quality of care and patient safety. Conclusions: Presenteeism among nurses is a complex phenomenon that may influence their job satisfaction and patient health outcomes. Nurses being the most affected frontline workers by the pandemic, nursing managers need to be aware of this phenomenon and try to prevent nurses with health problems to work by adopting organizational policies that allow them to treat their conditions effectively. In addition, nurses should be properly informed and treated for presenteeism and its effects.