title: Workers' experiences with compensated sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorder: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common occupational disease that is compensated by Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) in Korea is musculoskeletal disease (MSD). Although complaints about the workers' compensation system have been raised by injured workers with MSD, studies that examine workers' experiences with the Korean system are rare. This paper is a qualitative study designed to examine injured workers' experiences with the workers' compensation system in Korea. The aim of this study is to explore the drawbacks of the workers' compensation system and to suggest ways to improve this system.
  
  
  METHODS
  All workers from an automobile parts factory in Anseong, GyeongGi province who were compensated for MSD by IACI from January 2003 to August 2013 were invited to participate. Among these 153 workers, 142 workers completed the study. Semi-structured open-ended interviews and questionnaires were administered by occupational physicians. The responses of 131 workers were analyzed after excluding 11 workers, 7 of whom provided incomplete answers and 4 of whom were compensated by accidental injury. Based on their age, disease, department of employment, and compensation time, 16 of these 131 workers were invited to participate in an individual in-depth interview. In-depth interviews were conducted by one of 3 occupational physicians until the interview contents were saturated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injured workers with MSD reported that the workers' compensation system was intimidating. These workers suffered more emotional distress than physical illness due to the workers' compensation system. Injured workers reported that they were treated inadequately and remained isolated for most of the recuperation period. The compensation period was terminated without ample guidance or a plan for an appropriate rehabilitation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to alleviate the negative experiences of injured workers, including quality control of the medical care institutions and provisions for mental and psychological care for injured workers, are needed to help injured workers return to work earlier and more healthy.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-Daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-Daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyoung-Ryoul
authors: HR
authors: Kim
authors: Research Institute for Alternative Worker's Movements, 14-1 Donggyo-ro 29, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-865, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jinwoo
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-Daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hye-Eun
authors: HE
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-Daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Junsu
authors: J
authors: Byun
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jong Uk
authors: JU
authors: Won
keywords: Musculoskeletal disease; Occupational injuries; Qualitative research; Workers’ compensation