• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2020

Purpose: Although the importance of life satisfaction in patients with chronic diseases has been emphasized, limited studies have been performed on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among elderly patients with chronic diseases. This study examined the HRQoL among Korean patients with diabetes aged 65 years or older. Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2016. The analysis included data of 2,353 elderly patients with diabetes aged 65 years or older who were aware that they had type 2 diabetes. Each participant was categorized into one of three age groups (65-69 years, 70-74 years, and ≥ 75 years). The EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale was computed to estimate the HRQoL. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to compare the demographic characteristics, lifestyle characteristics, nutrient intake, and EQ-5D scores between the age groups. Results: The intake levels of most nutrients were similar in the three age groups, but the total energy intake levels were significantly lower, and the sodium intake levels were significantly higher in the older age groups (p < 0.001). In addition, all items of the EQ-5D index, except for anxiety/depression, tended to decrease with age. In particular, the oldest age group (≥ 75 years) showed significantly lower levels on most items and the EQ-5D index than those in the other age groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes may have low levels of life satisfaction, which worsens with increasing age. Therefore, it is important to develop and manage personalized guidelines and medical systems so that elderly patients have a higher quality of life for the remainder of their lives. The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for the systematic management of diabetes in elderly Korean patients.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.231-240
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the depression of the main caregivers for the elderly in Korea by using a descriptive survey study. A total of two hundred eight participants who admitted at five nursing homes located in G city were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. There was a significant difference in depression according to general characteristics: higher level in extended family in family type. Participants showed significantly higher level of depression in cases of less than five years' hospitalization periods or Decision maker of elderly's hospitalization high level burden for expenses among caring related characteristics. They also had higher level of depression in cases of high level burden for expenses. less than 60 minute in commuting time, or non-satisfaction for nursing home service among caring related characteristics. Although we need more evidences through future studies, the findings from this study will be useful in the development of nursing intervention program for reducing the depression of the main caregivers for elderly population.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting social discrimination experience on depression in the early and late elderly by region. Methods: This study used data from the National Survey of Older Koreans 2020. The subject of the study was the elderly aged 65 or older, and it was analyzed as those who responded. In order to analyze the effect of social discrimination experiences on depression, it was analyzed through binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The results of this study showed that the elderly who experienced social discrimination had a significant effect on depression. In addition, when four groups experienced social discrimination when using restaurants or coffee shops, depression was commonly affected. In addition, when both city and rural areas experience social discrimination when using sales facilities in social discrimination in the elderly, city areas are 2.21 times more likely to experience depression and 3.52 times more likely to experience depression in rural areas. The late elderly are more likely to experience 3.04 times more likely to experience social discrimination when using restaurants or coffee shops in city areas, and 3.03 times more likely to experience depression when experiencing social discrimination to make major decisions in the family in rural areas. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is necessary to prepare alternatives to prevent depression and improve mental health suitable for the characteristics of age and residential area. In addition, it suggests that personal and social efforts are needed to solve the problem of social discrimination in order to reduce depression in the elderly.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.217-231
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• 2024

The aims of this study were to identify (a) the social network contact frequency of the elderly with children, relatives, and friends; (b) the impact of contact frequency (face-to-face/non-face-to-face) on life satisfaction of the elderly; and (c) the moderating effect of digital capabilities of the elderly on the relationship between social contact frequency and life satisfaction. Data were obtained from the National Survey of Older Koreans 2020. The sample comprised 6,119 adults aged 65+ who were in single or couple households. The principal findings were as follows. First, couple households, higher levels of education, and better health status increased life satisfaction of the elderly. Second, the higher the frequency of face-to-face contact with children and the higher the frequency of non-face-to-face contact with friends, the more positive the effect on life satisfaction of the elderly. Third, the interaction effect of the digital capabilities of the elderly differed according to children, relatives and friends. There was a significant and positive moderating effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and the frequency of face-to-face/non-face-to-face contact with children and the frequency of face-to-face contact with relatives. Conversely, there was a significant negative effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and the frequency of face-to-face/non-face-to-face contact with friends. By examining the impact of non-face-to-face contact on life satisfaction of the elderly in the era of digital transformation, the findings have significance in that they provide basic data to support policies and education programs aimed at improving the digital capabilities of the elderly.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2023

Purpose : This study intended to provide essential data for developing measures for the stable settlement and expansion of the life-sustaining treatment decision system by identifying the effects on preparing advanced directives. Methods : The effects on preparing advance directives of older people were identified based on Andersen's behavioral model, using the 2020 Korean national survey on elderly. Data were statistically analyzed with SPSS Statistics ver 25.0 and the significance level (α) was set to .05. Results : For factors that influence the preparation of advance directives, the predisposing factor was .769 times less for women than men (p=.026). By age, it was 1.410 times higher (p=.006) for people in their 70s compared to people in their 60s and 1.675 times higher (p=.003) for those in their 80s. By the level of education, it was 1.617 times higher (p=.026) for those who have elementary school education compared to those who have no education, 1.596 times higher (p=.048) for those who have a middle school education, 2.313 times higher (p<.001) for those who have a high school education, and 3.827 times higher (p<.001) for those who have a college education. By religion, it was 1.328 times higher (p=.008) for those who have faith compared to those who do not. For possible factors, it was 2.325 times higher (p=.003) for those who spend 100,000 won or more on healthcare (monthly average) compared to those who do not spend. For necessary factors, it was 1.439 times higher (p=.041) for those with the chronic disease compared to those without. Conclusion : It is deemed a measure that can increase the preparation of advance directives, considering the characteristics of each cause, for the stable settlement of the life-sustaining treatment decision system.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2020

Objectives: This study confirms the current status of visiting oral health-care services for the elderly to draw policy implications for revitalization of the visiting oral health care services in the future. Methods: First, a survey was conducted on health centers about the current status of the elderly visiting oral health-care service and how to revitalize it. Next, the number of oral hygiene services provided to the elderly was checked in the long-term care insurance system. Results: Oral health education (100%) was the most common practice in visiting oral health-care service for the elderly, and the most difficult thing in providing services was the lack of dental hygienists (38.9%). The status of oral health-care services in the long-term care insurance system for elderly revealed that the total number of service claims has been confirmed to be zero since the introduction of the system. Conclusions: Despite the existence of a system that provides elderly visiting oral healthcare services, to revitalize it, the law must be amended to secure a dental hygienist as the main agent of the activity and to further take responsibility for autonomous authority and performance.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2020

The relationship of abdominal obesity ("AO") with co-morbidity and mortality is well established. This study assessed the factors associated with AO, which was defined as a waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women, in the group aged over 65 years. A total of 1,435 subjects were analyzed among the participants of the 2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Statistical methods for a complex sample were applied by using a SPSS program (ver. 25.0). AO was more frequently found in females. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that heavy drinking (OR: 1.53), no weight training (OR: 0.68), stressful mental status (OR: 0.61), bad health-related quality of life (by EQ_5D, OR: 1.45), hypertension (OR: 2.18), prediabetes (OR: 1.94), diabetes (OR: 1.63), low HDL-cholesterol (OR: 1.86), anemia (OR: 0.55), and heavy energy intake (OR: 1.41) were significantly related with the prevalence of AO after adjustment for gender. Heavy drinking (OR: 1.89), bad self-rating of health status (OR: 1.72), low HDL-cholesterol (OR: 1.85), heavy energy intake (OR: 1.79), low intake of riboflavin (OR: 1.60) were still significantly related with the prevalence of AO after adjustment for gender and body mass index (BMI), this study suggests that certain characteristics of health habits, mental health status, and chronic diseases may be associated with AO. This study did not establish the existence of relationship between nutrient intakes, except for riboflavin, and risk of AO, but this study suggests that prospective research is needed to establish causal connections among those factors.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.47-61
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• 2020

Objective : This study aim to identify the relationships among the types of physical activities included related included related work, sports, leisure, transport and sedentary behaviors and mental health in elderly person. Methods : We analyzed using the data of the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES VII-1) of 978 subjects who underwent the types of physical activities, quality of life, depression, level of stress, and sleeping hours survey. For statistical analysis, the Complex samples linear regression was used for relationships among the variables. Results : High level of physical activity and house-keeping activity associated negatively on health related quality of life. Mid-High level of leisure activities associated positively on health related quality of life. Contrasting from other studies, which show sedentary activities associated negatively on the health related quality of life, and sedentary activities associated positively on the health related quality of life and mental health. Conclusion : This study shows that physical and leisure activity of an elderly person whilst sedentary activities related positively on health related quality of life, and physical activities related to labor associated negatively on health related quality of life. Future studies should be referred when planning an occupation-focused and meaningful activity program for the elderly people.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to understand the changes in the daily life and quality of life of the elderly due to the spread of COVID-19. This study attempted to supplement the limitations of quantitative analysis by performing both quantitative and qualitative analysis. A large-scale representative data, the Elderly Survey 2017 and 2020, were analyzed, and in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 16 elderly people in Gwangju and Seoul. As a result, it was found that the overall quality of life was positively changed compared to before Corona. The frequency of contact and visits with family members decreased whereas the time spent watching TV increased. The elderly's adaptation to daily life has a series of processes since the first outbreak of COVID-19. At the beginning of the outbreak, there were fear, anxiety, and depression due to isolation, but gradually made efforts to adapt to the new situation. They reported that they realized the importance of human relationships, especially spouses, in a crisis situation and that there were some positive aspects as well. Finally, in all these results a difference was found between single-person households and multi-person households. Through the above research results, academic and policy measures were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.226-235
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• 2020

Objectives: Decreasing muscle strength in old age has become a significant health problem because it increases the risk of falls or fractures and transfers to other diseases. The precise role of dietary protein intake in preventing or reducing muscle weakness is unclear. This study examined the relationship between handgrip strength and protein intake in Korean female elderly. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used data from the Seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) on female subjects aged 65 years and older. Low handgrip strength (LHGS) was defined as a handgrip strength below than 18 kg. Dietary intake data were obtained using the 1-day 24-hour recall method. Multiple regression was performed to test whether there is an independent relationship between the grip strength and protein intake, and the association between protein intake and LHGS was confirmed through multiple logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the 2,083 elderly females was 73.3 ± 0.1 years, and the prevalence of LHGS was 35% (n=734). Elderly women with an LHGS consumed less energy, total protein, and animal-based protein than those in the normal group. A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for covariate revealed a significant positive association between the handgrip strength and energy, protein, and animal-based protein intake. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) of LHGS in female elderly with the highest quartiles of consumption of energy [OR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43-0.82; P for trend=0.004], and animal-based protein [OR, 0.59; CI, 0.40-0.87; P for trend=0.037] were significantly lower than those in the lowest quartiles. Conclusions: The energy intake and animal-based protein intake were negatively associated with the LHGS. These results suggest that adequate energy intake and protein intake, particularly those from animal-based sources, for elderly women in Korea are beneficial in lowering the risk of LHGS.