• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.505-526
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• 2011

The purposes of this paper were to examine the level of knowledge of and attitudes toward the elderly and investigate the differences in the level of knowledge of and attitudes about the elderly by selected socio-demographic factors and aging related factors in Korea and the United States. The research subjects were 1129 college students attending 10 schools in Korea and the United States(840 Korean students in 5 schools, located in Seoul City, Gyeonggi-Do, Chungcheong-Do in Korea and 289 American students in 5 schools located in the State of New York of the United States). They were interviewed, using the structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 for Windows. The research questionnaire was composed of Fact on Aging Quiz Part 1(FAQ 1) developed by Palmore(1998), Semantic Differential Scale development by Sanders et al., and several socio-demographic and aging related variables. The results indicated that, first, the level of knowledge of the elderly for Korean students was 12.51/25 and for American students was 11.57/25, resulting that the knowledge level of the elderly in Korea was higher than that of the United States. In addition, the results of students' knowledge differences between korea and the United States showed that Korean students showed high ratio of correct answer in 9 questions while American students showed high ratio of correct answer in only 4 questions, resulting that Korean students have higher knowledge than American students. Second, the level of attitudes toward the elderly for Korean students was 77.54 and for American students was 70.07 in 20-140 points, resulting that the attitude level of the elderly among American students were more positive than that of Korean students. The results of students' attitudes differences between Korea and the United States showed that Korean students responded positive tendency in only one question while American students responded positive tendencies in 14 questions, resulting that American students were more positive attitudes toward the elderly than that of Korean students. Third, there is a significant correlation between the knowledge of and attitudes toward the elderly in both Korean and American students. Based on these results, implications for policy, practice, and research were further discussed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.533-542
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to provide basic information and policy implications needed to balance the supply and demand for dietitian by projecting supply and demand for dietitian. The data from the Ministry of Health Welfare and Family on the number of licensed nutritionist, resident registration data of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and health insurance qualification data of the National Health Insurance Corporation were used to examine the current status of supply. To project the supply of nutritionist workforce, the in-out moves method and demographic method were used. The ratios of nutritionist to population and GDP, and that of other countries were applied as the demand projection method. According to the study results, the projection on the imbalance of supply and demand for dietitian by year 2021 differs depending on the method used. First, according to the results based on age-adjusted population ratio, there is an oversupply of 1,643 dietitians in year 2010, and 2,076 dietitians in year 2020. Second, although the projection on the imbalance of the supply and demand for dietitian differs depending on whether the GDD is calculated in won(￦) or dollar($). it is expected that there will be an oversupply in general. Third, as to the scenario using the nutritionist ratio in foreign countries, the oversupply of dietitian is likely in Korea, under any scenario, when comparing the nutritionist supply projection with the demand projection based on the nutritionist ratio in the United States. However, the projection of the supply and demand varies in each scenario when the European nutritionist ratio is applied. Under European 'scenario 1', an oversupply is expected, whereas under 'scenario 2', a shortage of supply is expected. A careful approach is required in interpreting the supply and demand projection using criteria of other countries, because dietitian assumes different roles and functions in each country. Although a slight oversupply of nutritionist workforce is projected, it does not cause a major problem as the demand for diet therapy is expected to rise due to aging and the increase of chronic diseases, and as the demand for clinical dietitians in hospitals increases. Accordingly, the demand for dietitians will rise and, in this context, the oversupply of nutritionist will not incur much problem. However, the nutritionist qualification is much too open in Korea, and this has a negative effect on the quality of the nutritionist workforce. Therefore, it is important that the nutritionist qualifications and requirements are reinforced in the future, enhance the quality level of the nutritionist supply, and maintain the balance between the supply and demand.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2015

Purpose: As the rate of senior citizens living alone increases in the current aging society, there is much concern regarding the health and nutritional intake of solitary senior citizens. Therefore, this study compared the nutritional intake of senior citizens according to their family type. Methods: In July and August of 2011, two senior citizen welfare centers in Seoul were visited to survey 267 elderly women. Excluding 54 subjects for which the data were incomplete, information from 213 subjects was analyzed. The subjects were divided into three family types, living alone (LA, n = 74), living with spouse (LS, n = 78), and living with children (LC, n = 61). Results: The mean age of the LA group was the highest, while the mean age of the LS group was the lowest (p < 0.001), and WHR of the LC group was the highest (p = 0.049). Income was the highest in the LS group (p < 0.001). Frequency of eating out was the lowest in the LA group (p = 0.031). By Duncan's multiple analysis, the amounts of energy intake, vegetable protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, Vit D, Vit E, $Vit\;B_2$, niacin, $Vit\;B_6$, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were significantly higher in the LS group compared with the LA or LC group (p < 0.05). The intakes of calcium, Vit D, $Vit\;B_{12}$, and cholesterol were still significantly different among the three groups, even after adjustment for age and monthly income. The LA group ate less fruit and fish than the LS or LC group (p < 0.05). The LA group showed the lowest dietary diversity and the LS group showed the highest diversity (p = 0.014), however, the significance of dietary diversity score among the three groups disappeared after adjustment for age and monthly income. Conclusion: Elderly women living with spouse were receiving better nutrition than elderly women living alone or living with children. Therefore, solitary elderly women who do not live with their spouse or children should be offered greater opportunities to receive a balanced meal at a congregational kitchen or welfare center. To ensure their healthy diet, it is essential to provide continuous nutrition education with these groups in mind.