• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.159-166
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between masticatory ability, oral health-related quality of life, and cognitive function in an elderly population using structural equation modeling. Methods: A total of 308 subjects, aged 65 years and over, were recruited from the senior citizen center in Daegu, South Korea and provided consent for inclusion in the study. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) was used to assess the level of cognitive function. Masticatory ability was evaluated through chewing tests, patient-perceived masticatory function and, measurement of relative occlusal forces on molar teeth using the T-Scan $III^{(R)}$ system. All data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$ tests, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 23.0 for windows. Structural equation modeling was performed using SPSS AMOS version 22.0. Results: There was a significant association between cognitive function and molar teeth occlusal force. Ability of food chewing score and patient-perceived masticatory function could affect oral health-related quality of life (P>0.05). Higher occlusal forces on molar teeth, compared to anterior teeth, positively correlated with higher cognitive function. Conclusions: These results suggest that an individual's oral health condition could affect molar teeth occlusal forces and may be related to a risk of developing dementia. Therefore, there is a need for implementing nation-wide policies to improve oral health, such as masticatory function, in the elderly population.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2008

This study was undertaken to determine the halitosis status of urban area in Dae-Gu city. The sample of this study consisted of 332 persons who lived at Dae-Gu city. The results were as follows. 1. The persons consisted of 44.6% male and 55.4% female. The 32.5 % persons were under 38 years and 82.2% of persons were married. 2. The 26.8% persons answered the last meal time was before 1-2 hours and 63.3% persons answered middle halitosis. The 26.3% persons answered the time of worst halitosis was after breakfast and 33.1% persons answered the smell type of halitosis was nasty smell. The 11.4% persons experienced dental treatment for halitosis, and 63.9% persons required dental treatment for halitosis. 3. The 100 ppb~149 ppb concentration of halitosis was 156 persons. Over 150 ppb concentration of halitosis was 54 persons. The average of halitosis concentration was 122.76 ppb and, the 63.3% persons required halitosis management and treatment. An aged persons of the halitosis concentration was significantly increased than younger persons (p < 0.05). Higher smell preception of halitosis was significantly increased in halitosis concentration test practically (p < 0.001). Subjects who treated dental treatment for halitosis was significantly increased (p < 0.01). This study results have informed that the knowledge and management of halitosis was demand and required public relation for halitosis. The halitosis management and education program will improve the oral health. Therefore halitosis management program which based on data collection and planning will be developed and activated in further study.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.99-113
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• 2002

For this study a sample of 205 people, 66 males and 139 females, over 65 years of age, residing in C-gu of S-si and utilizing senior centers, were selected, The objective of the study was to provide basic data for health promotion program development provided by health centers. A questionnaire was used to collect date on general characteristics, health status, social health status and utilization rate for health services. The instruments used in this study were the Lawton scale, to measure daily routine function, the MMSE-K developed by Folstein and modified to fit the Korea situation, for mental health status, and the CES-Dtool developed by Radloff, for emotional health status. the SPSS Window program was used to calculate percentages. Tests of significance were done using t-test and ANOVA. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify variables influencing the use of health services. The results are as follows : Of those utilizing senior citizen centers, 40.9% of males and 17.3% of the female thought they were healthy. The average score for IADL was 7.4. The daily routine of female respondents consisted of buying household articles and drugs, and other IADLs such as riding the bus or subway alone. These resulted in a higher score compared to males. For emotional health, 7.6% of the males reported depression compared to 21.6% of the females. For mental health, 48.5% of the males and 28.8% of the females were found to be in the group suspicious for dementia. On social health, 57.6% of the males and 62.6% of the females reported no intimate human relations. Of those older people who had close human relations, 52.5% of the males indicated a friend as the closest person and 53.8% of the females, their children. On use of health services, there was a significantly higher need for mobile medical care services treatment for those with lower education levels and status of window/widower. There was a significantly higher need for health exmination services for those with lower levels of exercise, greater satisfaction with sleep, higher levels of oral health care, and higher social contacts. In conclusion, there is a need to provide varied programs for the promotion of health, along with parallel resolution of social, psychological and economic issues. It is recommended that health services for elderly people provided by the health centers be implemented with full recognition of these characteristics and differences.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to analyse and conduct the comprehensive geriatric assessment for the elderly in rural area. The subjects were 388 older people aged 65 years or older living in the community. Data for comprehensive assessment such as physical, mental, functional, social and environmental conditions were collected from January to February, 2001 through a person-to-person interview. Of the total 388 olders, 169(43.6%) were men and 219(56.4%) were women. Mean ages of men and women were $73.5{\pm}6.4$ and $74.0{\pm}6.2$ years respectively. Three common diseases of the elderly were arthralgia(51.6%), chronic back pain(33.2%) and hypertension(18.6%), and higher in women than in men. Impairment rate of vision, hearing and bowel or bladder control was 59.0%, 20.1%, and 28.4% respectively. But that of lover extremities 3.4%. In terms of cognitive function, short term memory loss was found in 33.7% of males and 44.7% of females. The percentage of fully independent in the six ADL items was 72.2% in men and 58.9% in women. In the social supportive system, 49.5% of the elderly were living with spouse, and 22.9% living alone, 26.3% having care giver. These results will provide basic data for the development of community-based health program, which gives appropriate health service for the elderly living in the community.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.554-562
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• 2014

This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing toothbrushing behaviors of elementary school students by adding the variable of 'self-efficacy' to the behavioral model based on the theory of planned behavior. To collect the data for an analysis, the self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 443 students in 4th to 6th grades of elementary school placed in Inchon Metropolitan City. The statistical package of PASW 18.0 was employed for the analysis. Results of the analysis revealed that the toothbrushing intention was explained by the subjective norm (${\beta}=0.343$), the self-efficacy (${\beta}=0.171$), the perceived behavioral control (${\beta}=0.163$), and the attitude toward the tooth-brushing behavior (${\beta}=0.135$). The toothbrushing behavior was explained by the toothbrushing intention (${\beta}=0.355$) and the self-efficacy (${\beta}=0.113$). The synthesis of such results suggested that both parents and teachers in school who would be influential to students should guide elementary school students to be habituated to the right toothbrushing. Also it was estimated that the students should understand the importance of toothbrushing through proper oral health education, and they should also become confident in spontaneous toothbrushing by providing them with an environment that could help them practicing the toothbrushing easily.