Background
: Physiological fatigue due to excessive physical activities and lack of proper rest is commonly observed among workers. Previous studies suggested that physiological fatigue can be related to individual physical fitness. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and the degree of fatigue in 95 female employees in general hospitals.

Methods : Subjects were healthy adults female volunteers who were employed by two general hospitals located in Seoul and Kyunggido. The degree of fatigue using fatigue severity scale and physical fitness including % body fat, waist-hip ratio, maximal oxygen uptake, both grip strengths, back muscle strength, sit ups, flexibility, and broad jump were assessed. Data were strengths, back muscle strength, sit ups, flexibility, and broad jump were assessed. Data were analysed to examine the relationship between the degree of fatigue and each physical fitness.

Results : 1. Fatigue severity scale was significantly increased with increasing age and commuting time. Drinking alcohol was significantly related to increased fatigue severity scale.
2. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing number of family members and length of service.
3. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing both grip strengths, maximal O₂uptake, and sit ups.

Conclusion : The physical fitness factors including both grip strengths, maximal O₂uptake, and sit ups were considered to be important predictors in the evaluation of the degree of physiological fatigue.

Background
: Assessment of aerobic capacity(VO₂max) is one of the essential components in exercise prescription for health promotion and maintenance. This study was conducted to compare the validity of four exercise tests to assess aerobic capacity in young adult male subjects by comparing them to the values measured from maximal ergometer exercise test(criterion VO₂max).

Methods : twenty young healthy adult males(M±SD=21.1±1.5 years) volunteered as subjects. Criterion VO₂max was calculated and printed out automatically by computerized analysis system of expired air samples collected during maximal ergometer exercise test. VO₂max was estimated for each subjects from heart rate at submaximal workloads on the cycle ergometer using the Åstrand-Rhyming nomogram(A/R) and Fox protocol(FOX) and the computerized multiple extrapolation method (XTP). The score got from Harvard step test(H/S) was used to compare the validity. The validity of the procedures was based on the evaluation of the predicted VO₂max (from A/R, FOX, XTP, and H/S) versus the criterion VO₂max via the calculation of constant error(CE=mean difference for predicted minus criterion VO₂max), r value, standard error of the estimate[SEE=SD-(1-r²)1/2], total error[TE=(∑(predicted VO₂max ? criterion VO₂max)²/n)1/2].

Results : In relation to criterion VO₂max, the XTP and A/R underpredicted (XTP : 40.8 ml/kg/min SD = 4.1; A/R: 37.3 8 ml/kg/min SD = 5.0) and the H/S and FOX overpredicted(H/S: 48.0 8 ml/kg/min SD = 5.9; FOX 46.3 8 ml/kg/min SD = 5.5). Dunnett post-hoc procedures revealed that there were significant(P<0.05) mean differences(CE) for VO₂max from A/R versus criterion. The validity coefficients for VO₂max derived from XTP, H/S, A/R, and FOX were 0.68,0.53,0.50, and 0.49, respectively. TE of the XTM, FOX, H/S and A/R, which accounts for the effects of both the CE and SEE, were5.73,6.13,6.75, and 8.87, respectively.

Conclusion : These results suggest that the XTP is recommended first for estimation VO₂max in young adult males. It is also considered that further studies about female and other age groups are necessary.

Background
: Hearing loss is one of the most common of all physical impairments, but physicians seldom screen adults for it, and patients often overlook hearing problems. The development of screening instruments to detect hearing impairment in populations is an area of active research. A new hearing impairment screening questionnaire, the Smith Hearing Screening(SHS), was developed by Mary F. Smith, PhD which was made up of total 14-items ascertaining hearing impairment-related information. This study was conducted to estimate validity and reliability of SHS questionnaire using portable audioscope(Welch Allyn Inc.).

Methods : Self-administered screening questionnaire(Smith Hearing Screening) and a hearing screening evaluation using the Welch Allyn Audioscope instrument were given to 176 consecutive family practice patients over the age of 18 years during the period from June 1993 to August 1993. By estimating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of Smith Hearing Screening(SHS) questionnaire, validity of SHS was assessed. And reliability of SHS was assessed by 1 month test-retest method.

Results : The prevalence of hearing impairment in this sample was 15.34%(27patients). Starting with Smith recommended cut-off score of 6 or greater, the sensitivity of SHS was 70.37% and specificity was 86.58%. Starting with cut-off score of 5 or greater, the sensitivity of SHS was 77.78% and specificity was 77.85%. SHS's reliability measured by test-retest correlation coefficient in 30 patients by random telephone follow-up interviews, who had reported that there was no change of SHS score between test(Time 1) and retest(Time 2) period, was 0.923(P<0.001).

Conclusion : The SHS questionnaire is valid, reliable, easy and inexpensive tool for detecting hearing impairment in adults. Since hearing impairment is a very common problem throughout the world, authors recommend that all adult patients be evaluated for hearing impairment.