Experience and Awareness of Health Managers, Administrators, and Workers on a Hearing Conservation Program in Korea: A Qualitative Study

Minsu Ock, Jeehee Pyo, Ok Hyun Kim, Changho Chae, Byeong Jin Ye, Sang Hoon Kim, Hyun Chan An, Ahra Kim, Jae Oh Park and Jiho Lee
Additional contact information
Minsu Ock: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea
Jeehee Pyo: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea
Ok Hyun Kim: Safety and Health Inc. Besh Consulting, Gimhae 50902, Korea
Changho Chae: Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Changwon Hospital, Changwon 51353, Korea
Byeong Jin Ye: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan 47392, Korea
Sang Hoon Kim: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea
Hyun Chan An: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea
Ahra Kim: Environmental Health Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea
Jae Oh Park: Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute, KOSHA, Ulsan 44429, Korea
Jiho Lee: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan 44033, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the experience and awareness of a hearing conservation program to explore its activation plan. Three focus group discussions were conducted with five health managers, five labor supervisors, and five workers. A single in-depth interview was conducted with a health manager. Since hearing loss has a significant influence on the quality of life of workers, all participants recognized the importance of management. Although the need for hearing conservation programs was acknowledged, the participants had negative views about their effectiveness. Most health managers have not been able to demonstrate tangible results from their efforts to solve hearing problems, and they have been unable to demand that their employers actively invest resources and personnel in solving or preventing hearing problems. The participants in this study did not entirely understand the hearing conservation program, negative comments suggested that it is impossible to eliminate noise sources from the workplace, and measures for noise reduction would reduce work efficiency. This study can be supplied not only as a basis for reidentifying the real problems of the hearing conservation program but also for the tailored implementation method of future hearing conservation programs at each worksite.

Keywords: workplace; qualitative awareness; hearing loss; hearing conservation program; focus group discussion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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