• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2022

Purpose: Medication adherence in older adults with multimorbidity is critical for self-care. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors that influence medication adherence in older adults with multimorbidity. Methods: The patients were 116 adults 65 or older with three or more chronic diseases. The data were collected from December 2020 to April 2022 in outpatient clinics at a hospital in Daejeon. Results: The mean scores of depression, social support, and medication adherence were 16.18± 6.74 (of 30), 41.06± 6.56 (of 60), and 4.69± 1.85 (of 8) points, respectively. Patients with low adherence comprised the most with 75 patients (64.7%). Influencing factors on medication adherence were depression (β= -.35, p= .007) and family support among social support (β= .29, p= .006). Conclusion: Among older adults with multimorbidity, lower depression as well as higher family support, results in higher medication adherence. It is necessary to develop a practical strategy toward improving medication adherence, by sensitively managing the degree of depression, as well as strengthening family support.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of participation in social activities on the subjective health satisfaction of the elderly in groups with and without chronic diseases. Methods : Data were used from the "2014 the Korean Elderly Survey" and the subjects were 10,451 persons aged 65 years or older. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 18.0 statistical package. Results : The results of this study were as follows. In the case of the elderly without chronic diseases, only the employment status (${\beta}=.135$, p<.01) had a significant effect on the health of the elderly. In the case of elderly people with chronic illness, participation in lifelong education (${\beta}=.183$, p<.001), participation in social group (${\beta}=.277$, p<.001), volunteer work experience (${\beta}=.060$, p<.05), and employment status (${\beta}=.342$, p<.001) had a significant effect on health. Conclusions : Policies and systems are needed to actively encourage and support the social activities of the elderly. Additionly, care and attention are needed to provide social jobs for the elderly and build a sustainable network.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.212-221
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to find out how the level of religious activity and participation in religious activities affect the satisfaction of the lives of the elderly. To this end, based on the 20th data of the labor panel survey, 3,261 people aged 65 or older were analyzed for technical statistics, average differences, and regression analysis. The research results are as follows. First, the existence of religion did not have a statistically significant effect on the satisfaction of the elderly's life. Second, the level of participation in religious activities was shown to have a statistically significant effect on the satisfaction of senior citizens' lives. In other words, the older people actively participate in religious activities, the more satisfied they were with Third, by type of religion, it was found that the Christian elderly had a statistically higher level of satisfaction in life than the Buddhist elderly. Based on these results, implications were drawn and policy suggestions were made.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.545-556
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• 2022

This study aims to ensure that the help of family members and caregivers has a controlling effect in the process of restrictions on the Activities of Daily Living affecting depression in the elderly. Based on the 15th data of the Korea Welfare Panel, technical statistics, average difference analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and control effect analysis were conducted on 4,214 senior citizens aged 65 or older. The results of the study are as follows. First, restrictions on the Activities of Daily Living has been shown to have a significant effect on depression in older people. Second, between restrictions on the Activities of Daily Living and depression of the elderly, the family's private help has been shown to function as a modulator to alleviate depression of the elderly. Third, between restrictions on the Activities of Daily Living and depression of the elderly, public help from caregivers does not function as an adjustment variable that alleviates depression of the elderly. Implications were derived and policy suggestions were presented based on these results.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.37-45
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• 2021

Purpose : This study aimed to present normative data and cut-off points for older Korean adults completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Korean (MoCA-K), which is used as a screening test for mild cognitive impairment in Korea. Methods : A total of 195 healthy adults ≥60 years were recruited. All participants completed the MoCA-K and the Korean - Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) to assess their cognitive function. Participants were divided into six groups based on their age: 60-64 years, 65~69 years, 70~74 years, 75~79 years, 80~84 years, and 85~89 years. Results : The results revealed that MoCA-K score decreased significantly with age (mean score ± standard deviation [SD]; 27.63±2.80 in subjects aged 60~64 years; 27.00±2.39 in subjects aged 65~69 years; 24.94±2.96 in subjects aged 70~74 years; 24.74±3.37 in subjects aged 75~79 years; 22.59±4.72 in subjects aged 80~84 years; and 18.83±5.38 in subjects aged 85~89 years; p<.001). Additionally, MoCA-K score also increased significantly with educational level (mean score±standard deviation [SD]; 19.95±4.78 in no formal education group; 24.95±2.22 in elementary school graduated group; 26.35±2.72 in middle school graduated group; 28.32±1.36 in high school graduated group; and 28.50±1.51 in more than college graduated group; p<.001). The optimal cut-off points were 24/25 for 60~69 years old group, 21/22 for 70~79 years old group, 17/18 for 80~84 years old group, and 13/14 for 85~89 years old group. The optimal cut-off points were 15/16 for individuals who were illiterate, 22/23 for individuals with 6 years of education, 22/24 for individuals with 9 years of education, and 26/27 for individuals with 12 or more years of education. Conclusions : This study presents normative data and cut-off points for the MoCA-K in older Korean adults. This data will facilitate more accurate detection and follow-up of the risk of mild cognitive impairment in this population, taking into consideration age and education. Future studies are required that should focus on the cut-off score on the level of education according to age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The progression of the center of pressure (COP) velocity of the stance phase may have important roles for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline. This study was conducted to identify the correlation between gait speed and the velocity of COP progression during the stance phase in older adults with cognitive decline. METHODS: Forty adults aged 65 years or older (twenty participants without cognitive decline, 20 participants with cognitive decline) were recruited. The COP progression velocity was measured using an F-scan pressure-sensitive insole system. The stance phase was divided into four sub-stages. (loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, and pre-swing). Gait speed, double support phase, and cadence were also measured. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Gait speed was associated with the COP progression velocity in midstance (r = .719, p < .05), cadence (r = .719, p < .05) and the COP progression velocity in loading response velocity (r = .515, p < .05) in older adults with cognitive decline. However, no correlation was found in older adults without cognitive decline. In multiple regression analysis using gait speed as a dependent variable, the COP progression velocity in midstance and cadence were significant predictors of gait speed, with the COP progression velocity being the most significant predictor. CONCLUSION: The COP progression velocity is an important factor for predicting gait speed in older adults with cognitive decline, suggesting that the cognitive function influences gait speed and the velocity of COP progression.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 2018

Objective: Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) is one of the common nosocomial infections. As elderly population increases, the proper treatment has been emphasized. We investigated the risk factors associated with CDI unimprovement in elderly patients. Furthermore, we performed drug use evaluation of old CDI patients and oldest-old CDI patients. Methods: It was a retrospective study using electronic medical record at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center (KBSMC) from January 2016 to December 2017. Seventy three patients aged 65 years or older, diagnosed with CDI by Clostridium difficile Toxin B Gene [Xpert] were screened and they were assessed for risk factors regarding unimprovement status. We also evaluated drug use evaluation in old patients ($65{\leq}age$<80) and oldest-old patients ($80{\leq}age$) by assessing the use of initial therapy, severity, dose, route, treatment course, days of use, total days of use and treatment outcome of initial therapy. Results: Out of 73 patients aged over 65 years, four patients were excluded because they did not receive any treatment. There were 31 improved patients and 38 unimproved patients after initial therapy. We were able to find out patients with surgical comorbidity or endocrine comorbidity (especially, diabetes mellitus) had 2.885 more risk of becoming unimproved than those patients without surgical comorbidity or endocrine comorbidity. Drug use evaluation for CDI was generally fair, but vancomycin as initial therapy is more recommended than metronidazole. Conclusion: Although age, antibiotics exposure, use of antacids are all important risk factors for CDI, our result did not show statistical significance for these risk factors. However, the study is meaningful because the number of elderly population keeps increasing and recently updated guideline suggests the use of vancomycin as drug of choice for CDI.

• 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.

• 한국노년학
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2021

This study is a descriptive study conducted to find out the predictive factors according to the level of the frailty of the communitydwelling older adult in a rural area. Data were collected from 400 older adults aged 65 years or older living in rural areas of Gyeongsangnam-do from October 2019 to March 2020. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to examine the predictive factors according to the level of frailty. The results showed that 27.8% for robust older adults, 30.9% for pre-frailty older adults, and 41.3% for frailty older adults. As a result of analyzing the predictive factors according to the level of frailty, the predictors from the robust stage to the pre-frailty stage were grip strength, nutritional status, and depression. The predictive factors for entering the pre-frailty stage into the frailty stage were gender, nutritional status, physical performance ability, and depression. Also, it was found that the predictive factors for entering from the robust stage to the frailty stage were sex, occupation, nutritional status, physical performance ability, and depression. Through this study, it was possible to understand the level of the frailty of the older adults living in rural communities and the effects of multidimensional variables. These results can be used as basic data necessary to find a way to prevent and manage the progression of frailty among older adults in rural areas.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.669-686
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate types of neighborhood environments and to verify whether the types of neighborhood environments are directly related to life satisfaction of older adults. To achieve this goal, I used'2014 National Survey on Older Koreans' data which surveyed the older adults aged 65 and over living in the community and a total of 10,281 respondents were analyzed. To determine the types of neighborhood environment, the time taken by walking from community organizations or places such as grocery stores, medical centers, administrative agencies, welfare centers, public transportation was used as an neighborhood environment indicators. As a results, there were six types of neighborhood environment: a leisure-welfare walk-limited type(20.3%), a leisure-welfare long-distance type(15.5%), a balanced proximity type(7.8%), a store-traffic type(35.8%), a traffic proximity type(10.1%), and a marginalized area type(11.3%). Compared to the balanced proximity type, older adults living in a store-traffic type and a marginalized area type were more likely to have negative life satisfaction. older adults who have higher life satisfaction were more likely to be female, more educated, get higher household income, and have a spouses or partner. Moreover, the better the health conditions, the higher the frequency of contact with children, siblings, friends and neighbors, the higher the satisfaction of life. Finding from the study highlight the importance of neighborhood environment in late life and provide implications for building age-friendly community.