• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.831-850
• /
• 2016

The ratio of suicide among the elderly in Korea has nearly tripled within the last 20 years. With this in mind, this study examined the effects of social exclusion on depression and suicidal ideation among the elderly living in elderly-only households with a focus on gender differences. Social exclusion is composed of economic, health, housing, education, social participation, and relational aspects. For this study, data were gathered from 527 participants aged 65 years and over. The statistical methods used for data analysis were descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-test, and hierarchical regression analysis with the SPSS Win 20.0 program. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, more than 80% of the elderly experienced social exclusion. Women were shown to be more vulnerable than men in terms of housing exclusion, educational exclusion, health exclusion, and multiple exclusion, whereas men were more vulnerable than women in terms of social participation exclusion. Second, social exclusion had significant effects on suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly. We also observed gender differences in the results. Regression analysis of suicidal ideation showed that relational exclusion had a significant effect on suicidal ideation in men, whereas health exclusion had a significant effect on suicidal ideation in women. Results of the study show that stronger social support networks and policies focusing on the elderly are needed in order to reduce elderly suicide in Korea.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.42-51
• /
• 2010

Imaging studies using MRI, PET, and/or MEG have been primary evaluation methods to quantitatively assess cognitive function. Recent advances in computational technology and information technology may allow a novel evaluation methodology to quantitate cognitive function more cost-effectively. In this study, we developed a software package composed of a series of tests to evaluate cognitive ability combined with a user-friendly touch screen input device. This cognitive assessment tool can quantitate concentration, numeric memory, associative memory, topological memory, visual and muscular reaction, and acoustic reaction over a relatively short testing time. We performed an empirical study on eighty normal subjects aged 20 and 59 years old using the developed evaluation methods. Age-related cognitive deterioration after 40 years old was confirmed. There was no difference in cognitive ability between male and female in the same age group. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a simple but effective evaluation software tool to quantitatively assess cognitive ability. This methodology may provide improved accessibility and reduced costs to perform cognitive function studies to compare between various subject groups.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2019

Purpose : This study investigated the effect of bamboo stepping exercises on the blood pressure of the elderly. This study was performed for 8 weeks. Methods : The study participants included 25 people aged 65 and over. Of the participants, 16 were in the hypertensive elderly group and 9 were in the normal blood pressure elderly group. The participants stepped on semicircular bamboo for 20 minutes 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The participants' blood pressure was measured 3 times before and after 8 weeks of exercise. The mean values of the 3 before and after measurements were compared and analyzed statistically. Results : The systolic blood pressure of the hypertensive elderly group decreased significantly from $134.6{\pm}21.1mmHg$ to $119.9{\pm}18.1mmHg$ (p<.05). The diastolic blood pressure of the hypertensive elderly group decreased from $70.2{\pm}10.5mmHg$ to $66.1{\pm}9.8mmHg$, but the difference was not significant. The systolic blood pressure of the normal blood pressure elderly group decreased significantly from $127.2{\pm}18.7mmHg$ to $115.5{\pm}19mmHg$ (p<.05). The diastolic blood pressure of the normal blood pressure elderly group decreased from $72.6{\pm}11.3mmHg$ to $68.2{\pm}12mmHg$, but the decrease was not significant. Conclusion : After completing 8 weeks of the bamboo stepping exercises, the elderly participants' systolic blood pressure was effectively reduced. Today, lifestyle modifications, such as daily exercise, are necessary to control the blood pressure of the elderly. We hope that the bamboo stepping exercises, which are easy to perform and are not restricted by place and time, will become part of the elderly health policy.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.29-40
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between metabolic syndrome factor diseases and falls in the elderly aged 65 years or older and use them as basic data to reduce the risk of falls. Methods: The method of this study was to compare the injury-related characteristics of the fall and non-fall groups with a factor disease of metabolic syndrome in Korea over 65 years of age. Data from the 14th National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey in 2018 were used to conduct the study. A total of 7,991 data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Results: Among the total injuries, the fall group with metabolic syndrome factor disease accounted for 69.0% and the non-fall group 31.0%. Falls occurred in 86.3% of households. In the fall group with metabolic syndrome factor disease, the number of females was 1.9~2.1 times higher than that of males. Compared to 65~69 years of age, the incidence of falls was 1.4~1.5 times higher in 70~79 years, 1.7~2.2 times higher in 80~89 years, and 2.5~3.6 times higher in 90-year-olds and older. In NISS, the incidence of falls was 1.7 times higher in moderate compared to mild. In principle diagnosis, the incidence of falls was 2.2 times higher in S40-S99 compared to S00-S19. Conclusion: The elderly with metabolic syndrome factor disease should continue to promote health through light exercise that can strengthen muscle strength to prevent falls.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.118-138
• /
• 1985

This paper is aimed to analyse the recent changes in family planning as a step in an evaluation of the results of the population control policy which has been strenuously pursued by the government since December 1981. The data used in this analysis comes from the 1985 national fertility and family planning survey conducted by the Korea Institute for Population and Health (KIPH) in May 1985. According to the 1985 survey data, there have been great changes in both the contraceptive practice and fertility rates since the strengthening of the government's population control policy in 1 981. The contraceptive practice rate for married women aged 15-44 has increased from 57.7% in 1982 to 70.3% in 1985, an increase of 12.6% points in the short span of only 3 years. During the same period, the total fertility rate has declined from 2.7 in 1982 to the population replacement level which was planned to achieve by 1 988. More than 80% of women aged over 30 or with two children or more are practicing contraception, while the practice rates of women with 0-1 children are 14.0% and 45.1% respectively. The survey has revealed that the increase of contraceptive practice rate during 1982-1985 has mainly attributed to the high acceptance of sterilization procedures which practice rate of the married women has increased from 28.1% to 40.3% for the period. Also, the survey data shows that 24.7% of those women with only one child is practicing contraception for thepurpose of fertility termination. The government, taking into account of rapid changes in contraceptive practice and fertility rates, is formulating a population plan during the sixth fiveyear economic and social development plan (1987-1991) to achieve 1% ofpopulation growth rate by 1993, which was planned to realize by 2000. In order to meet this demographic goal, the existing population control policy measures should be improved to be suited to the recent contraceptive use and fertility changes. From this standpoint, the following considerations should be put forth; 1) improvement of the current program management systems including target allocation and evaluation schems for recruiting new acceptors in the young 20s groups to use contraceptives for birth spacing and to increase high continuation rates through the strengthening of follow-up services for the acceptors, 2) increase of self-supporting contraceptive users by promoting commercial advertisements on contraceptives through mass media including T.V. and radio, 3) development of social support policies including incentive schems, and strengthening of IE & C activities for increasing the proportion of the one-child family, 4) strengthening of population and family planning education in and out school youth, and 5) strengthening of management capabilities at the provincial and local program managers.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidality among community-dwelling elderly. Methods : The participants were 2,201 elderly people whose ages were over 65. The participants were asked to complete questionnaires, including Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview(MINI), module C, Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version(SGDS-K), Korean Geriatric Anxiety Inventory(K-GAI), The Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly V 1.0, Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS). Their sociodemographic factors were investigated. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the logistic regression test to examine the relationship between suicidality and participants' risk factors. Results : The prevalence rate of suicidality was 23.3%. In multiple logistic regression, depressive symptoms (OR=3.301, 95% CI : 2.453-4.440), anxiety symptoms(OR=3.289, 95% CI : 2.515-4.303), low physical function (OR=1.606, 95% CI : 1.229-2.098), no spouse(OR=1.571, 95% CI : 1.037-1.690), elderly aged 80 years or older (OR=1.506, 95% CI : 1.094-1.740) were independently associated with suicidality. Conclusion : Suicidality in community-dwelling elderly was quite high, particularly related to depressive symptoms. The results of this study can be useful for development of community-based prevention and management programs for suicidality.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.682-692
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of children's breakfast skipping and their mothers' needs for breakfast service at child care centers. A survey was conducted with mothers of children aged 3 to 5 years and attending child care centers in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Out of 960 questionnaires distributed to the caregivers at 32 child care centers, 633 were returned (66% response rate), and 449 were analyzed (47% analysis rate) after excluding data from the respondents not meeting the selection criteria for this study: mothers of children aged 3 to 5 years. Over 2/3 (69%) of children ate breakfast every weekday (Breakfast Eaters) and almost 1/3 (31%) of children skipped breakfast one time or more often on weekdays (Breakfast Skippers). The collected data were compared between Breakfast Eaters and Breakfast Skippers. The average Good Dietary Practice Score of Breakfast Skippers was significantly lower than that of Breakfast Eaters, implying poorer dietary habits. A higher percentage of mothers of Breakfast Skippers (62%) responded that breakfast service was 'necessary' or 'very necessary' at child care centers than those of Breakfast Eaters (27%). A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors affecting mothers' needs for breakfast service at child care centers. The result showed that the children's ages, mothers' occupational status, household monthly income, frequencies of eating breakfast on weekdays and satisfaction level with morning snack provided at child care centers affected mothers' needs for breakfast service at child care centers. In particular, mothers who had a full-time job (OR = 2.06) than housewives, mothers whose children did not eat breakfast at al (OR = 3.54), ate $1{\sim}2$ times (OR = 5.50) or ate $3{\sim}4$ times (OR = 3.80) on weekdays than those whose children ate breakfast every weekday were more likely to have needs for breakfast service at child care centers than housewives. In conclusion, Breakfast Skippers tended to have poorer dietary habits than Breakfast Eaters and Full-time working mothers had higher needs for breakfast service at child care centers. This study results suggest that child care centers consider serving breakfast to children as the number of working mothers increases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.5877-5882
• /
• 2013

Background: The aim of the study was to determine breast cancer risk and early diagnosis applications in women aged ${\geq}50$. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive field study focused on a population of 4,815 in Mansuro$\breve{g}$lu with a 55.1% participation rate in screening. In the study, body mass index (BMI) was also evaluated in the calculation of breast cancer risk by the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRA) (also called the "Gail Risk Assessment Tool"). The interviewers had a three-hour training provided by the researchers, during which interactive training methods were used and applications were supported with role-plays. Results: The mean age of the women participating in the study was $60.1{\pm}8.80$. Of these women, 57.3% were in the 50-59 age group, 71.7% were married, 57.3% were primary school graduates and 61.7% were housewives. Breast-cancer development rate was 7.4% in the women participating in the study. When they were evaluated according to their relationship with those with breast cancer, it was determined that 73.0% of them had firstdegree relatives with breast cancer. According to the assessment based on the Gail method, the women's breast cancer development risk within the next 5 years was 17.6%, whereas their calculated lifetime risk was found to be as low as 0.2%. Statistically significant differences (P=0.000) were determined between performing BSE-CBE and socio-demographic factors. Conclusions: It was determined that 17.6% of the participants had breast cancer risk. There was no statistically significant difference between the women with and without breast cancer risk in terms of early diagnosis practices, which can be regarded as a remarkable finding. It was planned to provide training about the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer for people with high-risk scores, and to conduct population-based breast cancer screening programs.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.73-95
• /
• 1997

Elderly problem from being aging society, especially health related problem of the elderly is very serious in many parts of this country. The reason is that most of geriatric disease are chronic and debilitating. The cause of chronic and debilitating disease are bad lifestyle and wrong health habit. Health is affected by a result of interaction of environment and human being. Because of difference of lifestyle between a city and a farm village, health behavior and health status of urban elderly and rural elderly may be dissimilar. Thus the purpose of this study was to grasp health behavior and health status, to identify the factors that effect on health status of the elderly. The subfects for this study, 488 persons aged 60 and over who live in Seoul or Cheonbuk Province. The preliminary survey was carried out from Aug. 19, to Aug. 22, 1996. With complement of questions, main survey was carried out from Sep. 29, to Oco. 10, 1996. The data was analysed by using in SPSS/PC+ program. The results were as follows. 1. General Characteristics 1) In the individual characteritics of the respondents, Seoulites aged 80 and over were 24.7%, the average age was 73.14 years old and rural residents aged 60-69 were 63.7%, the average age was 68.90 years old. In Seoul, 142 men and 101 women were respondents. In Cheonbuk Province, 101 men and 144 women were answered. In Seoul, those who graduated form elementary school were 35.4%, in farming region, illiteracy persons were 44.9%. In Seoul, 47.7% of respondents had spouse and in farming village, 66.1% of respondents had spouse. 39.0% of respondents who's imcome type was independent were Seoulite, and 66.1% of respondents who's income type was independent were rural residents. Employed persons in Seoul and in rural region were 16.9% and 62.0%. 2. Health Behavior 1) For the health behavior total score, the difference by region was not statistically significant. But the score of individual item was different and statistically significant. 2) For the Seoulites, younger person(p〈0.01), the female(p〈0.001) showed better health behavior and for the farming village residents, younger person(p〈0.01), the female(p〈0.01), independent income type(p〈0.05), employed person(p〈0.05) showed better health behavior. 3. Health Status 1) For the self-rated health status total score, the difference by region was statistically significant and individual item score was different and statistically significant. For ADL and IADL total score, the difference by region was not statistically significant, but individual item score was different and statistically significant. 2) For the Seoulites, woman(p〈0.05), lower education(p〈0.00l), independent income type(p〈0.05) showed higher score in self-rated health status. For rural residents, woman(p〈0.05), lower education(p〈0.01), independent Income type(p〈0.001) showed higher score in self-rated health status. For the Seoul residents, younger person(p〈0.001), employed(p〈0.05) showed higher score in ADL and IADL, and for the farm area residents, younger person(p〈0.001), higher education(p〈0.01), having spouse(p〈0.001), family type(p〈0.01) showed higher score In ADL and IADL. 3) For the Seoulites, drinking(p〈0.05), breakfast(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.05) and for the rural residents, drinking(p〈0.05), deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.01), washing hands before meal(p〈0.01) showed higher score In self-rated health status. For the Seoulites, deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.05) and for the farm village residents, fruit(p〈0.05), deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.001) showed higher score in ADL and IADL. We carried out this study to analyze the effectiveness through health education program in short term which was performed to use the special subject activities. This study was conducted on 63 students who were first grade in S Junior High School from Dec. 1995 to Feb. 1996. To analyze the effectiveness, we performed the Pretest, 1st Posttest, and 2nd Posttest for learned health knowledge. The results were as follows: 1. Most of the students(69.8%) responded that their health were good, and they got the information for health through Mass Com.. The students who had experience of health education were 15.9%, and the 77.8% of the respondents needed the health education. 2. The means of health knowledge on tests were 18.2(Pretest), 21.5(1st Posttest), and 21.4(2nd Posttest). Increase of health knowledge between Pretest and 1st Posttest was 10.9%. 3. The mean of differences between Pretest and 1st Posttest was 3.26, it was significant(p〈0.01). And the mean of differences between Pretest and 2nd Posttest was 3.19, it was significant(p〈0.01);however, the mean of differences between 1st Posttest and 2nd Posttest was not significant(p=0.2514). 4. The significant main contents were Health Facilities(d=0.42), Pregnancy and Labor(d=0.39), Hygiene(d=0.35), Safety Education(d=0.66), and Drug Abuse(d=0.60)(p〈0.01).

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.3-11
• /
• 2005

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate quality of life according to social support of elderly in the rural area. Method: The subjects of this study were 199 people aged over 60 who had been living in three rural areas. Date was collected through questionnaires from July 10th, to August 10th, 2003. Result: The most socially supportive people they answered were friends(80.9%), followed by children(74.9%), neighbors(71.9%), siblings(55.8%), spouse(53.3%), in descending order. Mean social support score for spouse was 13.36, for children 13.27, for friends 11.40, for neighbors 10.21, for siblings 10.20. A comparison of the average grade points per items according to the offerers of social support revealed spouse support(13.36 out of 18), children support(13.27), friends support(11.40), neighbor support(10.21), siblings support(10.20). The average of the quality of life score was 132.26 out of 220. A comparison of the average grade points per items within sub-areas of quality of life revealed the highest score of neighbor relationships(4.29 out of 5.00) and the lowest score of economic conditions (2.61) Quality of life scores correlated positively with social support scores(r=.734, p<.001). Variables significantly influencing quality of life were spouse support(36.1%), neighbor support (5.1%), age(2.2%), religion(1.7%). These variables explained 45.1% of the variance in quality of life. Conclusion: Social support for elderly people in rural areas identified this as a greatly effective factor for their quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to develop health promotion programs connected with social support in order to enhance the quality of elderly people in rural areas.