• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.619-625
• /
• 2023

In this paper, the remote care of medical beds with multiple body pressure sensors is described. Falling is one of the factors that seriously threaten the safety of patients and harm their health. In this study, a new bed was developed to overcome this. The bed system consists of a keyboard that can operate, a keyboard controller that manages the movement of the keyboard, a sensor that measures body pressure, a sensor controller that transmits and receives sensor values, a main controller that checks it and operates automatically or manually according to the algorithm, and a server that oversees all these information. The bed system checks the patient's location through a sensor and wirelessly alerts the server through the main controller when the patient determines that there is a risk of falling, so that the nurse or nurse can recognize the patient's dangerous condition. The server may receive state data transmitted from the wired/wireless terminal to monitor whether the bed system is operating normally. The controller of the keyboard operates a keyboard-type mechanism and automatically controls the prevention of bedsores connected by body pressure sensors to physically separate the area to which the patient's pressure is applied to prevent bedsores. The main controller checks the presence of the patient's bed and transmits it to the server. In conclusion, the proposed system can smart monitor the user's state and perform remote care.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.237-247
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of osteoporosis and falls and their consequences, and to identify predictors of fracture risk in the postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 687 postmenopausal women were recruited through a stratified convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain osteoporosis and fall history and details of their most recent fall. To predict fracture risk factors, we collected demographic and physical health variables related osteoporosis and fall. Fracture risk was measured by FRAX$^{(R)}$ to calculate 10-year probability of major osteoporotic and hip fracture. Results: The prevalence of osteoporosis was 22.1%, and 66.4% of them had treatments for osteoporosis. The incidence of falls during the past year was 19.2% and 38.6% of those who fell suffered consequent fractures. Women with history of osteoporosis and falls were significant predictors of 10-year probability of major osteoporotic and hip fracture. Other significant predictors were history of fracture, chronic disease, surgical menopause, lower BMI, poorer perceived health and no job. Conclusion: It appears that history of osteoporosis and falls are main predictors of fracture risk. Nursing assessment should be performed by detail history taking for osteoporosis, fall, chronic disease, and fracture to screen fracture risk group among postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.697-705
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the possible cause of falling owing to mechanical energy in elderly women as compared to young women when performing the sit-to-walk movement. Two groups participated in this study: 10 elderly women and 10 young women. We used a ProReflex MCU camera (Qualisis, Sweden) and ground reaction force to evaluate the mechanical work. The muscle power (W) showed the same low negative work in both groups in the extension phase of the knee and hip joints while varying the angular velocity and net muscle moment of force. Elderly women, in particular, showed lower negative work. In mechanical work (J), the knee and hip joints of both groups showed the same amount of negative work in the extension phase. In the hip joint, elderly women showed lower negative work results in each phase. These result showed the possible reasons of falling for elderly women according to the weakness of the thigh muscle of the hip joint during the sit-to-walk movement.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.110-122
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Nowadays, A medical institution assesment could get more interest about a quality of medical services from many hospitals that developed the active activities for improving medical services. Also, there is an other additional issue which is the patients risk management. Uijeongbu ST. Mary's hospital Nuclear Medicine department has been changed many work process after PET-CT introduction and renovation of its place since 2008. Therefore, modified structure and the way of existing work process have contained risk factors. The purpose of this study would be the appropriate risk management process while imaging examination process, the removal risk factors and improved activities through the analysis risk factors. Materials and Methods: Nuclear Medicine department new process should analysis through many-sided, Firstly, make and trained risk management manual after then apply an actual work. Result analysis showed the number of risk accident occurrence that comparing the last year and after the improved activities. Secondly, producing risk management public relations film has been showed an applicable patient after then the customer service measurement checked for a hundred patient by questionnaire. Lastly, Risk factors were eliminated through the facilities participation improving activities which could change for the better risk factors. Results: The number of safety accident occurrence(medication error, fall and collision) were checked as zero after the improving activities both PET-CT and gamma camera examination. The results of questionnaire showed as follows; 74% marked as understanding of the test process and 81% checked "satisfaction" after the public relations film showing. The question "Did you consider about the risk factors?", both PET-CT and gamma camera checked as 94% and 89% respectively. Customer risk management could be accomplished effectively through the improving activities at the nuclear medicine department. Conclusions: The study would be an opportunity that spread risk factors were systematically showed and analyzied. Also, It showed the possibility of the minimized safety accident and its feedback, if application of the response manuel that could be a standard of radiology technician's work method to react safety accident. It was the more effective that visual material could be easy to approach as a methodology of risk factors. As far as I have concerned that It could help the safety and convenience through continuous and detailed activities that offer to patients.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 2005

Purpose: To assess the environmental hazards of falling accident in the homes of the elderly. Method: 222 homes of the elderly were assessed by the home environmental Checklist from May to July in 2003. Results: The mean score of home environmental hazards for fall were 13.19 with the highest score being 49, ranging from 4 to 24. The bathroom was the most hazardous place in the home, porch came next bedroom, kitchen, living room and stair followed them. The floor surface such as finishes and non-skid mats was the most hazardous interior factor in the home, using bathroom came next furniture and illumination followed them. The floor surface such as finishes and non-skid mats in the bathroom, kitchen, living room and porch, illumination of bedroom and stair were the most prevalent hazards in the home of interior. Of the 49 potential hazards, bathroom grab bar was the most prevalent one with 89.9%, and non-skid rugs in the porch, bathroom and kitchen, safety of dinner table, the threshold and furniture of porch, and illumination of bedroom were prevalent more than half of the home under assessing. Men, living in the separate house or villa with stairs were in more hazardous environments. Conclusion: To reduce the potential hazards of fall accident in the home, improving hazards relating to floor surface such as slip resistance surface and mats is important specially those of the separate house or villa with stairs.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.61-73
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 8- week Tai Chi exercise program on improving the risk factors for falls in the older adults with chronic arthritis pain. Method: Fifteen subjects were assigned for experimental group and thirteen were assigned for control group. The subjects of the experimental group participated in a 8 -week program of Tai Chi exercise. In order to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi program, pain intensity, postural stability, balance, gait, and flexibility of knees and ankles were measured before the first and after the 8th session Result: After a 8-week Tai Chi program, there were significant improvement in single-leg stance time with eyes open(left: p=.000, right: p=.003), total scores of balance(p=.004), total scores of gait(p=.005), and the angle of ankle dorsiflexion(p=.008) in the experimental group when compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in pain intensity between Tai Chi group and control group(p=.054). Conclusion: These results suggest that a 8-week Tai Chi exercise program can be utilized as a safe and effective nursing program to improve on improving the risk factors for falls in the older adults with osteoarthritis.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors that increase fall risk in the residential environment and the perceived fall risk among community-dwelling elderly through comparisons between fallers and non-fallers. Methods: The subjects were 95 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over residing in the metropolitan city of Ulsan. A structured questionnaire consisting of items on sociodemographics and health- and fall-related characteristics was used and data were collected from July to August 2015. The data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN program. Results: Among recent fallers, 38.9% had diagnosed diseases when the fall occurred, 56.87% were fearful of a recurrent fall, and 86.5% stated that they were increasing their carefulness but that had led to a decrease in activity. There were significant differences between elders who had fallen at least once and elders who had no falls in age, health status, depression, the experience of falling, fear of falling, diseases, and medications. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to assess risk factors to identify older adults with a high risk for falling and the need to develop multifactorial intervention programs that consider both environmental and perceived risk factors as well as physical risk factors to reduce and prevent falls among the elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.600-608
• /
• 2001

Accidents are the fourth-leading causal factor of death among the elderly, and fall is a major type of accident (53.17%). Many cases of falls in the elderly result in delayed discovery and loss of quality of life. As the number of the elderly grows, falls will be a more important health problem. Most previous research on falls investigated prevalence. mortality, and the related factors. There are many studies proving the effect of rhythmic movements. But few researches considered linking risk factors of fall with rhythmic movements. Purpose: We want to show the changes after performing rhythmic movement program, in risk factors of falls and mobility such as flexibility, balance, muscle power and persistency in the elderly, in order to provide basic information needed for the development of fall injury prevention program for the elderly. Method: The design of this study is quasi-experimental, the equivalent control group, pretest-posttest. The subjects consist of 124 people who lived in Do-Bong-Qu. Seoul, agreed to participate in this study, and were able to follow this rhythmic movement program. About 93 % of them are from 65 to 84 years (Mean${\pm}$sd: $73.7{\pm}5.7$): 64% are female. The rhythmic movement program was designed. and performed by two community health nurses working in the Do-Bong-Gu Public Health Center, regularly twice a week from May, 4 to December, 17. in 10 senior citizens' community centers. Risk factors of fall were measured with RAFS- II (Risk Assessment for Falls Scale II) by asking about each item: mobility was measured by observing their specific movements asked by investigators. Results: 1. After performing the program during 7 months, risk factors score of falls were decreased significantly (paired-t = 4.77. p<0.01). 2. After performing the program during 7 months, flexibility (paired-t = 2.26. p=0.03) and mobility were improved (paired-t = 4.98. p<0.01). but muscle power and persistency did not change (paired-t = 0.33. p=0.74). Overall, mobility affecting the occurrence of falls was improved significantly (paired-t = 5.15. p<0.01). Conclusions: A regular rhythmic movement program can be helpful in preventing falls in the elderly. Further. we can develop a fall injury prevention program using rhythmic movement.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical changes of the lower limb including dynamic stability with changes in illumination (300Lx, 150Lx, and 5Lx) and slope (level and $15^{\circ}$ downhill) as risk factors for elderly falls. Method : Fifteen elderly females were selected for this study. Seven infrared cameras (Proreflex MCU 240: Qualisys, Sweden) and an instrumented treadmill (Bertec, USA) surrounded by illumination regulators and lights to change the levels of illumination were used to collect the data. A One-Way ANOVA with repeated measures using SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze statistical differences by the changes in illumination and slope. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results : No differences in the joint movement of the lower limbs were found with changes in illumination (p>.05). The maximum plantar flexion movement of the ankle joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). Additionally, maximum extension movement of the hip joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx and 150Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). The maximum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to medial side of the body) of dynamic stability appeared to be smaller at 150Lx and 300Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). The minimum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to lateral side to the body) of dynamic stability appeared smaller at 150Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, elderly people use a stabilization strategy that reduces walk speed and dynamic stability as darkness increases. Therefore, the changes in illumination during gait induce the changes in gait mechanics which may increase the levels of biomechanical risk in elderly falls.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.2-14
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study was to report the incidence of falls in hospitals and analyze the risk factors for falls. Methods: This study used data on 1,216 patients who experienced falls from 2015 to 2017 during their hospitalization. The data was collected from the falls incident reports and patient' electronic medical record of hospital. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and multiple Poisson regression analysis with the SAS 9.4 Results: The incidence of falls was 1.38 per 1,000 patients days (2015), 1.81 per 1,000patients days (2016) and 1.99 per 1,000patients days (2017). The incidence of injury caused by falls (level III~V) was 0.05 per 1,000patients days (2015), 0.04 per 1,000patients days (2016) and 0.06 per 1,000patients days (2017). The largest number of falls occurred during night shift (42.5%), specifically in the patients' room (70.8%), and medical unit (66.0%). Average age of fallers was 69.1 years and 61.7% of them were older than 71 years. CCI and the patient's department have statistically significant differences in injury or injury levels from falls, but the integrated nursing care services had no significant difference in injury or injury levels from falls. Conclusion: The result of this study can be used as a reference for establishing a fall prevention strategy for hospitalized patients by presenting index values such as the fall rate.