A study on the subjectivity perception of the risk of cardiovascular disease in male driver workers: Q methodological approach

The purpose of this study was to confirm subjective perceptions of cardiovascular disease risk among professional male drivers. Using the Q-methodology, we systematically analyzed and classified subjective perceptions of cardiovascular disease risk among professional drivers, thus identifying characteristics of each type. Q methodology, which is a research method to study people’s subjective points of views, was used. 34 Q-statements (Q-sample) were derived from the Q population (Concourse) and were arranged in rank order by each of 35 participants into a normal distribution grid (from −4 to +4). A QUANL program was used to analyze the collected data. The subjective perceptions of cardiovascular disease risk among professional male drivers were classified into four types: first, the risk detection type; second, the prevention effort type; third, the symptom recognition type; and finally, the risk neglect type. Efforts should be made to maintain the physical and mental health promotion of the subjects, including education on symptoms related to cardiovascular disease, awareness and prevention of high-risk factors and severity, and various efforts. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop and implement tailored health promotion programs for preventing cardiovascular disease, considering the diverse characteristics of professional drivers.

Driver; Cardiovascular disease; Risk; Subjective

[1] Jung HS, Eum M, Jang I. The effects of individual counseling for bus-drivers to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease prevention: Secondary data analysis. Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing. 2015; 24: 281–289.

[2] Korea Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. A study on the exposure status of hazardous factors and the development of health management measures for transportation industry workers. 1st edn. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute/Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency: Incheon. 2002.

[3] Korea National Statistical Office. Annual report on the causes of death statistics 2018. 2020. Available at: https://kosis.kr/statisticsList/statisticsListIndex.do?menuId=M_01_01&vwcd=MT_ZTITLE&parmTabId=M_01_01&out Link=Y&entrType=#content-group (Accessed: 20 July 2020).

[4] Ministry of Employment and Labor. Analysis of Industrial Accident Trends in 2022. (Report No.: 118006). Sejong: Ministry of Employment and Labor; 2023 Dec. 2023.

[5] Kim EY, Hwang SY. Development and evaluation of a small group-based cardiocerebrovascular disease prevention education program for male bus drivers. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2012; 42: 322–332.

[6] van der Weijden T, van Steenkiste B, Stoffers HEJH, Timmermans DRM, Grol R. Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in general practice: mismatch between cardiovascular risk and patients’ risk perceptions. Medical Decision Making. 2007; 27: 754–761.

[7] Kim T, Jung M, Lee S. A study on correlation between job stress and metabolic syndrome of male employees of electronic goods manufacturer. Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing. 2016; 25: 55–64.

[8] Moon HK, Lee JH. Analysis of life patterns related to hypertension in taxi drivers. Asia-Pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology. 2018; 8: 649–656.

[9] Lim KO. Work ability and fatigability of taxi and bus drivers according to health states [doctoral dissertation]. Daegu, Korea: Kyungpook National University. 2007.

[10] Ko JM, Koh CK. Workplace hazards, work environment, and physical-affective health of taxi drivers. Journal of Occupational Health Nursing. 2010; 19: 246–257.

[11] Kim HG. Understanding of Q-methodology for the study of subjectivity. The Seoul Journal of Nursing. 1992; 6: 1–11.

[12] Kim HK. Agreement between the Q block and the Q tool. Journal of Korean Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity. 2008; 16: 5–16.

[13] Dennis KE. Q methodology: relevance and application to nursing research. Advances in Nursing Science. 1986; 8: 6–17.

[14] Blair JR, Bigner J. Parent-child relations. Family Relations. 1980; 29: 413.

[15] Kong JH, Choi HO, Oh EJ. The Relationship among cardiocerebrovascular disease knowledge, attitude of, health behavior among 30, 40s male workers. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association. 2016; 6: 309–318.

[16] Kim EJ, Hwang SY. Awareness and utilization of mobile health and preventive health behavior according to cardiovascular risk factor cluster type in early middle-aged male workers. The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Adult Nursing. 2019; 31: 562–572.

[17] Park SJ, Ko GY, Park BJ. Perceptions of the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged male taxi drivers: focus group interviews. Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing. 2020; 29: 288–294.

[18] Ko JK. Analysis of factors affecting the health behavior of taxi-drivers. Journal of East-West Nursing Research. 2009; 15: 71–81.

[19] Ha Y, Choi H. Relationships among self efficacy, social support, and health promoting behaviors in correctional officers. Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing. 2014; 23: 163–170.

[20] Elshatarat RA, Burgel BJ. Cardiovascular risk factors of taxi drivers. Journal of Urban Health. 2016; 93: 589–606.

[21] Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2017 Ministry of health and welfare statistical year book. (Report No.: 11-1352000-000137-10). Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2017 Dec. 2017.

[22] Park BJ. Development and evaluation of DEDE (Driver’s Exercise and DASH diet Encouragement) program for management of abdominal obesity among taxi drivers [doctoral dissertation]. Seoul, Korea: Korea University. 2020.