• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.374-385
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence medication adherence and self-care among low-income older adults with hypertension. Methods: A sample of 297 low-income older adults with hypertension was recruited from June 30 to July 30, 2010. Data collection was done using a face-to-face interview with structured questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and path analysis. Results: Subjective health status, duration of hypertension, number of drugs excluding antihypertensives, body mass index, knowledge about hypertension, sense of coherence, benefit, barrier, and self-efficacy were identified as significant predictors. Subjective health status and duration of hypertension, knowledge, depression, and self-care showed direct effects on medication adherence. Depression had the strongest direct influence on medication adherence. Body mass index, benefit, self-efficacy, and depression showed a direct effect on self-care. Sense of coherence was a strong predictor of depression which significantly influenced on medication adherence and self-care. Conclusion: For enhancing medication adherence and self-care, it is suggested that a psycho-education program reducing depression and increasing knowledge about hypertension should be provided into low-income older adults with hypertension.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.593-602
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to compare self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms between the young old (65-74 yr) and the old-old (75-84 yr) in low-income women with hypertension. Methods: This study used a descriptive research design. The subjects of this study were 136 elderly women over 65 yr living in D city. Data was collected from September to December 2007 through personal interviews using a questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 Program. Results: Self-care behaviors, functional status, and number of medications showed a significant difference between young elderly and middle elderly. There was a negative correlation between self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms. 52.2% of variance in self-care behaviors of young elderly and 76.8% of variance in self-care behaviors of middle elderly were explained by depressive symptoms, number of medications, and functional status. Conclusion: It is necessary to manage depressive symptoms to improve the self-care behaviors of low-income elderly with hypertension. Depressive symptoms need to be considered in planning hypertension programs for low-income elderly women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2008

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.441-450
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• 2006

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify variables related to self-care behavior and to find factors related to the control of hypertension. A cross-sectional study was carried out to provide basic data for effective and continuous hypertension control in the low-income elderly. Methods: This study was performed with a total of 189 subjects who were hypertensive and were receiving pharmacological treatment of hypertension from a community health center in D Metropolitan City. Data were collected through a face to face survey, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (the mean value of the two measures) were measured during May 2004. Obtained data were analyzed by $x^2$ test, t-test, multiple logistic regression and Pearson's correlation coefficient (using SPSS Version 10.1). Results: 1. According to demographical characteristics, the score of self-care behavior was significantly higher in elders living along ($47.63{\pm}7.276$) than in those living with the family ($45.19{\pm}5.501$) (p<.05), and in those with religion ($47.11{\pm}6.722$) than in those without religion ($45.01{\pm}6.110$) (p<.05) 2. As to blood pressure control, the percentage of blood pressure control within the normal range (systolic 140mmHg, diastolic below 90mmHg) was 37.03%. According to demographical characteristics, the percentage of blood pressure control was significantly lower in those without religion (p<.05). In practicing hypertension self-care behavior, those who do not control salk intake showed a significantly lower percentage of hypertension control (p<.05). The score of hypertension self-care was $48.28{\pm}4.443$ in the controlled group, and $45.42{\pm}7.399$ in the uncontrolled group, showing a significant difference (p<.01). 3. Hypertension self-care behavior was in a positive correlation with blood pressure control (r=.210, p<.05). Conclusion: Attention should be paid to self-care behavior to increase the control of hypertension in the low-income elderly. These results can be used guidances for improving self-care behavior and the control of hypertension in the low-income elderly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2020

Purpose: This study assessed the food intake and nutritional status of the elderly in long-term care facilities in order to provide adequate food services and improve the nutritional status. Methods: The survey was carried out from August 2019 to October 2019 for the elderly in long-term care facilities located in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The survey was conducted to collect data from 199 elderly persons (34 males and 165 females) aged over 65 years old. The food intake was assessed using a 1-day 24-hour recall method. Results: More than 90% of the subjects were over 75 years old. Forty five percent of the subjects were active, 44.2% of the subjects perceived themselves as not being healthy. Dementia and Parkinson's disease were the most common diseases, followed by hypertension, musculo-skeletal disease, diabetes, and stroke. Only 25.6% of the subjects had most of their teeth intact, and 44.7% of the subjects had difficulty in chewing and swallowing. The total food intake was 1,127 g in males and 1,078 g in females. The most frequently consumed foods were kimchi, cooked rice with multi-grains, soybean soup, cooked rice with white rice, yogurt, pumpkin porridge, soy milk, and duck soup. The average energy intake of the subjects was 1,564.9 kcal in males and 1,535.5 kcal in females. The overall nutritional status of the elderly in the long-term care facilities was poor. In particular, the intake of vitamin D and calcium, vitamin C, riboflavin, and potassium were very low. The intake of vitamin D was 5 ㎍, and 86.4% of the elderly were below the estimated average requirement, while the intake of sodium was high. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to understand the health and nutritional status and to improve the food services and nutrition management for the elderly in longterm care facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.128-136
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the factors of food service satisfaction of the elderly in Busan. The survey was conducted from September 1 to October 15, 2009 by questionnaires and data analyzed by SPSS program. Fifty point nine percent of the subjects lived alone and the source of living expenses of 70.5% of the subjects was subsidy from government. The most important reason for the elderly to participate in meal service was 'economic difficulty' and 'to meet friend'. The subjects had various chronic degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiac disease. Sixty-six point eight percent of the subjects needed diet therapy for their diseases, but 87.1% of them don't want to pay the extra fee. Thirty six point five percent of the subjects attained information about lunch program because it was 'close to home' but 20.7% was 'from public officials'. The reasons for the use of the meal service were 'economic difficulty' (40.0%), 'to meet friends' (22.6%), and 'bother to prepare meal' (16.50%). The services provided by welfare center were health care, physical exam and haircut. The score given by the subjects on the satisfaction of meal service was 3.84 on the 5-point maximum scale. Higher satisfaction on kindness of staff, satisfaction of social support and awareness of support resulted in higher satisfaction of food service. It would be effective to provide food service models that meet specific needs of the elderly according to social welfare service and social community activities.