A Study on the Pain and Subjective Health Index of the Aged

노인들의 동통과 주관적 건강지수 정도의 조사

This study is aimed to find out and define how the muscular-skeletal pain of the Aged, according to their residential circumstance, sex and age, can affect the subjective health index and how all these are related and associated with. For the period of June 1 to July 31, 2001, in order to study and define how the muscular-skeletal pain are related to the subjective health index of the Aged, we have conducted an enquete through a direct interview with 693 persons over age sixty-five (65) in Daejon and in other adjacent areas, divided into three different residential types "The Aged living at home", "The Aged living at welfare facilities" and "The Aged living alone". The study concludes followings : 1. Generally, muscular-skeletal pain and the subjective health index of the Aged, are a lot influenced by and related to their residential circumstance, their sex and their age. 2. With regard to the muscular-skeletal pain of the Aged by their sex, it was analyzed that, on an average, the female-Aged gains 3.0 point and the female-Aged suffers from this pain more severely. In analyzing this pain by their residential type, it was found that, on an average, the 3.0 point goes for "the Aged living alone", which explains the Aged living alone is having the most serious pain. 3. With regard to the subjective heath index of the all Aged participated in this research, the analysis indicates 8.8 point and this is considered as a general standard (7-10 point). In analyzing this index by their sex, the female-Aged gains 8.6 point only and it explains a lot of female-Aged consider they are not really healthy. In analyzing this index by their residential type, "the Aged living at welfare facilities" and "the Aged living alone" gain the comparatively lower point, - respectively 8.4 point for the Aged living at welfare facilities and 8.8 point for the Aged living alone. The Aged of these two residential types express they are obviously in a bad condition of health, which makes us think a lot.