Psychological factors influence the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their effect on quality of life among firefighters in South Korea.
The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial factors related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their effects on quality of life (QOL) in firefighters.



Data were collected from 1217 firefighters in a Korean province. We measured psychological symptoms using the scale. In order to observe the influence of the high-risk group on occupational stress, we conduct logistic multiple linear regression. The correlation between psychological factors and QOL was also analyzed and performed a hierarchical regression analysis.



GERD was observed in 32.2% of subjects. Subjects with GERD showed higher depressive symptom, anxiety and occupational stress scores, and lower self-esteem and QOL scores relative to those observed in GERD - negative subject. GERD risk was higher for the following occupational stress subcategories: job demand, lack of reward, interpersonal conflict, and occupational climate. The stepwise regression analysis showed that depressive symptoms, occupational stress, self-esteem, and anxiety were the best predictors of QOL.



The results suggest that psychological and medical approaches should be combined in GERD assessment.
a Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , Wonkwang University , Iksan , Republic of Korea.
Seung-Ho
SH
Jang
b Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine , Wonkwang University , Iksan , Republic of Korea.
Han-Seung
HS
Ryu
b Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine , Wonkwang University , Iksan , Republic of Korea.
Suck-Chei
SC
Choi
a Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , Wonkwang University , Iksan , Republic of Korea.
Sang-Yeol
SY
Lee
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Anxiety; Depressive symptoms; Firefighters; Gastoesophageal reflux disease; Occupational stress; Quality of life, Korea
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