• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.29
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• pp.319-331
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• 2017

South Korea has entered the age of aging society since the elderly population over 65 reached 13.1% in 2015. This increase rate is the fastest in the OECD members. as a part of the precaution, the Korean government has enforced the long term care insurance from July 2008 and the increase of related nursing homes until 2015 was 220.2% which is rapid and quantitative. It was natural that quantitative expansion leads to qualitative improvement. With regard to service environment conditions, color environment draws attention as one of the most effective measures. color environment supports nursing home's spatial functions and the aged class is subject to the research as the potential customers. This study aims to understand color environment, conduct surveys for color preference and attitude toward color environment, and suggest directions for color environment plan. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of Korean nursing home environment. It studied definition, state, color environment and space functions of nursing homes as well as the preceding researches. With 100 people over 60s in Busan and Gyeongnam area (52 male and 48 female), the survey examined attitudes for color environment and color preference by space functions in nursing home. The research method is as follows. First, as a result of the consciousness survey on color environment in elderly nursing home, it considers service (37%), medical service (20%), and location (19%) heavily in order. color environment plan is not recognized significantly. However, the need of indoor color plan in the elderly nursing homes has "agree (32%) and "strongly agree (25%), which suggests that color introduction is required to the nursing homes. Second, the indoor coloration for the elderly nursing homes has various color preferences. The color preference order for bedroom was R, P, and G but this order changes in nursing space (program room) to G, R, and Y. The communal space such as lobby prefers R, G and Y in order. R color was preferred in general.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1359-1375
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• 2010

Expecting the expansion of the elderly population under long-term home care with the coming of the aged society, this study purposed to propose a prevention and self-reliance support model and to get practical implications for minimizing dependency on care benefits and enhancing the effectiveness of prevention and self-reliance support. Research methods employed for this study were: first, reviewing theoretical literature for clarifying the concept of prevention and self-reliance support in providing long-term care benefits for the elderly; second, identifying factors hindering prevention and self-reliance support through analyzing standard long-term care use plans and documents related to long-term care benefits at elderly welfare centers to which the research subjects belonged; and third, surveying care benefit users on factors hindering their use of prevention and self-reliance support and their needs in the use of care benefits. Based on the results of the three types of qualitative research, we proposed directions for prevention and self-reliance support modeling and suggested practical implications for enhancing the effectiveness of prevention and self-reliance support. For this study, we collected documentary materials and conducted in-depth interviews with the participants with the consents and cooperation of managers and professional social workers at day care centers and elderly welfare centers in D City. According to the results of this study, literature review suggested that long-term care prevention and self-reliance support should be provided in a way of 'strengthening user-centered support systems,' which support elderly long-term care beneficiaries' right to lead a life as the subject of their own life. Document analysis found the absence of benefits related to health and medicine and lack of social support systems for prevention and self-reliance support, and the results of in-depth interviews suggested the necessity to strengthen services related to elderly long-term care beneficiaries' prevention and self-reliance, and the keen needs of the long-term care elders for prevention and self-reliance included: ① loneliness, anxiety, fear; ② missing for and worry about children and people; ③ moving, outing; ④ health and medical services, rehabilitation programs; ⑤ desire to use day care; ⑥ inconvenience of house structure; ⑦desire for meal menus; and ⑧ the occurrence of disuse syndrome. Based on these results, we suggested the base of prevention and self-reliance support modeling with three axes: ① strengthening user-centered support systems; ② strengthening support systems connected to health and medicine; and ③ strengthening social support systems.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.129-160
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to find 1) the realities of social anxiety and perception of various kinds of social problems that exists in Korean society as well as the perception on the events that causes the social anxiety, 2) to see the difference of perceived level of social anxiety through variables of social demography and difference of perception on Korean society. The sample was distributed according to population size distinguishing the nation to 6 regions. The data of 1,375 adult respondents were analysed. The results are as follows. First of all, respondents mentioned that the most immediate problem to be solved in Korean society was financial anxiety, and the most desirable state of society was when the society is financially stabled. Single question was measured about social anxiety of Korean society and scored 6.84 from full marks of 10, showing difference in variables for instance sex, age, and subjective S.E.S. where women, aged under 20, and perceived low class group showed the highest rate of social anxiety. However, there weren't any difference found in social anxiety of the variables like presence of religion, educational background, residence, and monthly average household income. Also, there were differences in level of social anxiety according to the difference of perception of Korean society. Higher the perceived unpredictability, uncontrollability, and unmovability to the upper class, unfairness, and uncertainty, unreliability of the Korean society, higher the social anxiety. And the lower the perceived chance of success of reformation, higher the social anxiety. It was also found that the perceived social anxiety is influenced by social accidents and phenomenon as unemployment, economic depression, and the gap between rich and poor as well as the increase of crime through effluence of personal information. Finally the limitations and implications of this study were discussed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.702-713
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• 2023

Purpose: Depression is a prevalent mental health concern globally including South Korea. Given the growing interest in the relationship between diet and mental health, this study aimed to investigate the association between seafood consumption and depression among Korean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2014-2020). The study included 18,149 participants (7,541 men and 10,608 women) aged 19 years and older who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Seafood intake levels were assessed using a oneday 24-hour dietary recall, and participants were categorized into three tertiles by gender. Depression status was determined using the PHQ-9 scores and the self-report of the doctor's diagnosis and treatment. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between seafood consumption and depression in both genders. Results: Participants with a higher seafood intake had a significantly lower nutritional density of total fat, while the nutritional density of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher. The prevalence of depression was significantly lower in the highest tertile of seafood consumption compared to the lowest tertile in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest tertile of seafood consumption demonstrated a decreased risk of depression compared to the lowest tertile in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.99; p-trend = 0.020) and women (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59-0.91; p-trend = 0.004). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that consuming seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may potentially reduce the risk of depression in the adult population.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.78
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• pp.21-55
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• 2024

Purpose of study: The purpose of this study is to examine the crisis situation of Christian education experienced by Korean churches and theological education institutions after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to seek new tasks and directions that Korean churches should prepare for the recovery and growth of Christian education. Research Contents and Methods: Before reviewing the current crisis experienced by Korean churches and theological education institutions after the COVID-19 pandemic, the terms and concepts of Christian education are first reflected. In addition, the causes and phenomena of the Korean church and Christian education crisis after the COVID-19 Pandemic are examined through statistics, media, and church field data. The researcher identified the causes of the crisis experienced by Korean churches and theological education institutions as follows: 1. The influence of COVID-19 Pandemic: suspension of faith and educational activities, 2. The age of population cliffs: increase in the elderly vs. decrease in young people, 3. Neoliberalism: marketism, infinite competition, efficiency, winner-take-all, 4. post-religious era: post-Christianity, weakened communitarianism, and reduced number of Christians. The results of this study are four points as follows: 1. Crisis of church education: suspension of operation of Sunday school and feeling of failure, 2. Crisis of faith of young generation: nurturing unstable future church leaders, 3. Faith of adult generation: crisis and hope, 4. The faith of the elderly generation: light and shadow. Conclusion and Recommendations: The new task and direction of Christian education that Korean churches should pursue after the COVID-19 pandemic are as follows: 1. New conversion of Sunday school faith education: From schooling-paradigm education to faith education that integrates family and generation. 2. New conversion of theological education: From knowledge education to spirituality training. 3. Re-ignition of faith education for middle-aged adults: Activation of faith through worship and small groups, 4. New conversion of church elder education: The need to change from caring objects to creative religious life.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

Background: This study aims to determine the association between the number of remaining teeth and oral health-related quality of life according to economic activity status in elderly. Methods: Data from the 9th Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) were used to analyze 6,004 older adults aged 59 years and older. The number of remaining teeth was categorized as less than 20 and more than 20, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) was used to measured the oral health-related quality of life of the elderly. Independent t-tests were performed to compare demographic, economic, sociodemographic, and health characteristics, as well as GOHAI scores, between economically active and inactive individuals. In the case of ANOVA analysis, Scheffe's post hoc analysis was performed to confirm statistical significance between groups. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the influence of the number of remaining teeth on GOHAI according to economic activity status. Results: Among the study population, 33.9% were economically active, which is approximately half the proportion of those were not economically active. The mean GOHAI scores were 43.32 and 40.15 for economically active and economically inactive individuals with 20 or more residual teeth, respectively (p<0.001). Simple linear regression analysis revealed that having more than 20 remaining teeth was associated with a statistically significant increase in GOHAI by approximately 4.56 times and 4.92 times compared to having fewer than 20 teeth for economically active and non-economically active individuals, respectively (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for demographic, economic, sociodemographic, and health characteristics, showed that having more than 20 remaining teeth was associated with a statistically significant increase in GOHAI by approximately 3.62 and 2.97 times compared to having fewer than 20 teeth in economically active and non-economically active individuals, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study explored economic activity status as one of several approaches to enhance the oral health-related quality of life of the elderly. By using the number of remaining teeth as an indicator of oral health status. supporting economic activity could potentially improve both oral health and overall quality of life for older individuals. Such interventions may have positive effects on policy outcomes, including reducing economic inequality by promoting economic engagement among the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2024

Background: Oral health has a significant impact on systemic health, and the close association between oral and systemic diseases has been continuously reported. To prevent oral diseases, the role of oral hygiene products such as dental floss and interdental brushes, in addition to tooth brushing, is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to analyze the effect of using oral hygiene products on the lifetime prevalence of systemic diseases among Korean adults. Methods: This study utilized data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). The study population consisted of 13,199 adults aged 19 years and older. The independent variable was the use of oral hygiene products, and the dependent variable was the prevalence of systemic diseases diagnosed by a physician. Demographic variables, health status, and behavioral variables were included as covariates, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The use of dental floss showed no significant association with the prevalence of systemic diseases. However, those who did not use interdental brushes had a 22% lower likelihood of dyslipidemia (OR 0.777, 95% CI 0.660-0.913). Among participants with periodontal disease, those who did not use dental floss had a significantly higher risk of myocardial infarction (OR 11.488, 95% CI 1.438-91.772). Conversely, those who did not use interdental brushes had lower risks of dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, and angina, particularly among women and individuals under 65 years of age. Conclusion: This study found a low overall association between the use of oral hygiene products and the prevalence of systemic diseases, but there was a notable association with cardiovascular diseases. To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, along with proper oral hygiene management, are crucial. Future prospective studies are needed to clearly establish the causal relationship between oral hygiene and systemic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.960-968
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• 2005

Purpose : This multi-center, open-label, clinical study was designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a trivalent, live, attenuated measles-mumps-rubella(MMR) vaccine, $Priorix^{TM}$ in Korean children. Methods : From July 2002 to February 2003, a total of 252 children, aged 12-15 months or 4-6 years, received $Priorix^{TM}$ at four centers : Han-il General Hospital, Kyunghee University Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital at the Catholic Medical College in Seoul, and Korea University Hospital in Ansan, Korea. Only subjects who fully met protocol requirements were included in the final analysis. The occurrence of local and systemic adverse events after vaccination was evaluated from diary cards and physical examination for 42 days after vaccination. Serum antibody levels were measured prior to and 42 days post-vaccination using IgG ELISA assays at GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK) in Belgium. Results : Of the 252 enrolled subjects, a total of 199 were included in the safety analysis, including 103 from the 12-15 month age group and 96 from the 4-6 year age group. The occurrence of local reactions related to the study drug was 10.1 percent, and the occurrence of systemic reactions was 6.5 percent. There were no episodes of aseptic meningitis or febrile convulsions, nor any other serious adverse reaction. In immunogenicity analysis, the seroconversion rate of previously seronegative subjects was 99 percent for measles, 93 percent for mumps and 100 percent for rubella. Both age groups showed similar seroconversion rates. The geometric mean titers achieved, 42 days pos-tvaccination, were : For measles, in the age group 12-15 months, 3,838.6 mIU/mL [3,304.47, 4,458.91]; in the age group 4-6 years, 1,886.2 mIU/mL [825.83, 4,308.26]. For mumps, in the age group 12-15 months, 956.3 U/mL [821.81, 1,112.71]; in the age group 4-6 years, 2,473.8 U/mL [1,518.94, 4,028.92]. For rubella, in the age group 12-15 months, 94.5 IU/mL [79.56, 112.28]; in the age group 4-6 years, 168.9 IU/mL [108.96, 261.90]. Conclusion : When Korean children in the age groups of 12-15 months or 4-6 years were vaccinated with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' live attenuated MMR vaccine ($Priorix^{TM}$), adverse events were limited to those generally expected with any live vaccine. $Priorix^{TM}$ demonstrated excellent immunogenicity in this population.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.165-184
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the difference and related factors with general characteristic and health behaviors, a experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases between rural and urban among elderly in Korea. Methods: We used the data of Community Health Survey 2017 which were collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study population comprised 67,835 elderly peopled aged 65 years or older who participated in the survey. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data. Results: We identified many significant difference of health behaviors, an experience of diagnosis and treatment with chronic diseases between rural and urban. Compared to urban elderly, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval) of rural elderly were 1.136 (1.092-1.183) for diagnosis of diabetes, 1.278 (1.278-1.386) for diagnosis of dyslipidemia, 0.940 (0.904-0.977) for diagnosis of arthritis, 0.785(0.736-0.837) for treatment of arthritis, 1.159 (1.116-1.203) for diagnosis of cataracts, and 1.285(1.200-1.375) for treatment of cataracts. In the experience of diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, various variables were derived as contributing factors for each disease. Especially, there were statistically significant difference in the experience of diabetes diagnosis, arthritis diagnosis, cataract diagnosis and dyslipidemia except for hypertension diagnosis (p <0.01) between urban and rural elderly. There were statistically significant differences in the experience of treatment for arthritis and cataract (p <0.01), but there was no significant difference in the experience of treatment for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia between urban and rural elderly. Conclusion: Therefore, it would be necessary to implement a strategic health management project for diseases that showed significant experience of chronic diseases with diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the related factors of the elderly chronic diseases among the urban and rural areas.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-277
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• 2005

Objectives: This study aimed to reveal the oral health conditions based on the dental health behaviors of a community-dwelling elderly. Methods: The subjects included 206 rural dwellers(100 men & 106 women) aged over 65 years old, who received dental health check-ups in the local public health center and its branches attached to 6 respective Myons of Chunchongnamdo Province, during the 2-month period from Jan. 1st to Feb. 28th, 2005. They were examined by dentists and given self-administered questionnaires asking about their dental heaith behaviors and subjective symptoms of gingival bleeding. Results: The oral health conditions based on dental health behavior showed that those who have not taken dental health service a year were found to have significantly greater number of missing teeth(p=0.002), DMFT(p=0.002) and CPITN(p=0.018), and those who have not observed intra-oral conditions a week to have significantly less number of filled teeth(p=0.002) and significantly greater number of missing teeth(p=0.000) and CPITN (p=0.000) than their respective counterparts. In terms of brushing, those who brushed their teeth below "3 times/day" were found to have significantly greater number of decayed teeth(p=0.000), missing teeth(p=0.000), DMFT(p=0.000) and CPITN(p=0.000) than their counterparts. In terms of time spent in brushing, those who spends "below 3 minutes" had significantly greater number of missing teeth(p=0.002) and DMFT(p=0.041), and significantly less number of filled teeth(p=0.036). According to the use of aid tools for cleaning teeth, the group who don't use them had significantly greater number of DMFT(p=0.041) and CPITN(p=0.018) than its counterpart. Classified by smoking habits, smoking groups had significantly greater number of decayed teeth(p=0.035) and CPITN(p=0.001) than non-smoking groups. Multiple regression analysis of the study data revealed that the significant factors influencing number of decayed teeth were number of brushing, sex and intra-oral observation (explanatory power of 14.2%). The significant factors for number of filled teeth were sex, intra-oral observation, use of aid tools, frequency of brushing, subjective health conditions and drinking of sweet beverages(explanatory power of 18.2%), those for number of missing teeth, number of brushing and age(explanatory power of 13.9%) those for DMFT, number of brushing, sex, use of dental service, age(explanatory power: 13.5%), and those for CPITN included smoking habits, use of dental service, use of aid tools (explanatory power: 10.8%). Conclusions: The study results revealed that the dental health behavior of the elderly population is in poor conditions and their consequent intra-oral health conditions are not good. To improve their oral conditions, public campaign and education will be needed to modify unhealthy dental health behaviors.