• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.396-417
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• 1991

In order that nursing care an essential quality of nursing practice be acceptable and satisfying, it is necessary that client's culture be respected and that nursing practice be appropriate to that culture. Since cultural elements are an important influence on health practices and life patterns related to medical treatment, recovery from and prevention of disease, nurses need to have an understanding and knowledge of social and cultural phenomena to aid in the planning of nursing interventions. To understand the health practices surrounding health and illness, the health beliefs and practices of both folk and professional healing systems should be ascertained. Cultural data are required to provide care of high quality to clients and to reduce possible conflict between the client and the nurse. It is nursing's goal to provide clients from various cultures with quality nursing care which is satisfying and valuable. The problem addressed by this study was to identify Korean health practices which would contribute to the planning of professional caring practice with the culture : ultimately this study was intended to make a contribution to the development of the science of nursing. The concrete objectives of this study were ; 1) to identify Korean health practices, 2) to interpret the identitial health practices through traditional cultural thought, and 3) to compare the Korean health practices with those of other cultures. The investigator used the ethnosceintific approach outlined by spradly in a qualitative study. To discover ancestral wisdom and knowledge related to traditional health practeces, the subjects of this study were selected from residents of a small rural mountain village in south west Korea, a place considered to be maintaining and transmitting the traditional culture in a relatively well -preserved state because of being isolated from the modern world. The number of subjects was 18, aged 71 to 89. Research data were collected from January 8 to March 31, 1990. Five categories of health practices were identified : “Manage one's own mind”, “Moderation in all thing”, “Live in accord with nature”, “Live in mutuality with others”, and “Live to the best of one's ability”. Values derived from these ways of thinking from Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism help fashion a traditional way of life, examplified by the saying “Benifience to all”. Korean thought and philosophy is influenced primerily by Confucianism, Confucian principles of ethics, embedded deeply in the peoples' minds, form the idea that “heaven and human being are intimately united” based on concept that “heaven is, so to speak, reason”. Twoe Gae's theory of existential subjectivity develops the concept of self which is the basis of the spirit of reverence in modern Confucian philosophy. The human md is granted from heaven out of the idea of matter, and what control the mind is the spirit of reverence. Hence the idea of “The primacy of the mind" and provided that one should control one's own mind. The precepts of duty to parents, respect for elders and worship of ancestors, and moderation in all behavior put a restraint on life which directed that one live earnestly according to Nature's laws with their neighbors. Not only Confucianism, but also Buddism and Taoism have had an important effect upon these patterns of ideas. When compared with western culture, Korean health practices tend to be more inclusive, abstract and intuitive while westerner health practices found to be mere concrete, practical and personal. Values and beliefs based and pragmatism and existentialism infuence western civilization, Ethical values may be founded on utilitarianism, which considers what is good for the persons in their circumstances as the basis of conduct and takes a serious view of their practical lives including human aspirations rather than an absolute truth. These philosophical and ethical ideas are foundations for health practices related to active, practical and progressive attitudes. This study should be enable nursing not only to understand clients as reflections of the traditional culture when planning nursing practice, but to dovelop health education corresponding to cultural requiments for the purpose of protection against disease and improvement of health, and thus promote sound health practice. Eventually it is hoped that through these processes quality nursing care as the central idea of the science of nursing will be achieved.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2009

Subjects of the research were 668 elderly people aged over 65 from Gangneung city. OHIP 14 went through a first translation from English to Korean, discussion among experts, a second translation from Korean to English, and then the translation was approved. After the primary and main research were carried out, validity and correlation coefficient with the outcome of oral and mental health examination were studied. OHIP 14 in terms of the perception of oral health was relevant to the perception of overall health and oral health, the necessity of dental treatment, the satisfaction about oral health, the level of pain from observation, and the satisfaction about artificial tooth. OHIP 14 on account of oral health state was related to the number of present natural teeth, the necessity of dental treatment, and the status of no teeth. OHIP 14 according to overall health was correlated to the number of ailments, the state of mind, nerve systems, bones and sinews, digestive systems, urogenital systems, cerebrovascular systems, respiratory systems, eyes, ears, and dementia. OHIP 14 according to the perception of oral health showed a significant difference in the perception of overall health and oral health, the level of pain in terms of observation, and the satisfaction on artificial tooth. OHIP 14 on account of oral health state demonstrated a meaningful difference in the number of present natural teeth, the necessity of dental treatment, and status of no teeth. OHIP 14 in terms of overall health exhibited considerable difference in the state of mind, nerve systems, bones and sinews, digestive systems, cerebrovascular systems, respiratory systems, ears, and dementia. From the study, it was proven that there was relevance between the validity of OHIP 14 and the perception of oral health, the state of oral health, and the state of overall health in the experiment on some Korean elderly people.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the trend of health statue of the elderly living in rural area according to drinking patterns. Methods: This study was conducted with 2,421 elderly people (male 1,273 and female 1,148) residing in the selected 25 villages, with exclusion of a few elderly people who were in hospital, out for a long time or had an unknown address. This study were carried out, face-to-face interviews with the subjects were made from January to March 2002. Results: The investigation of drinking state showed that for male subjects, drinkers accounted for 48.8%, nondrinkers 35.1% and abstainers from drinking 16.1%, whereas for female subjects, drinkers accounted 15.3%, nondrinkers 80.2% and abstainers from drinking 4.5%. The health status was analyzed according to drinking pattern. For elderly men, abstainers from drinking showed worse health state than nondrinkers and drinkers. Elderly women showed the same result. It is widely known that drinking are the important causes of chronic diseases. Therefore, it is needed to provide the elderly with education on control of preventable health risk factors and effect of living state on health, in order to prevent aggravation of health level of the elder population aged 65 and over. This will also help them promote their health. It will be desirable that for the elderly, the objective will focus on health promotion rather than treatment of diseases. Conclusions: Carry out health plan for rural communities and health maintenance programs and health promotion of the elderly in those communities shall be developed. In addition, preventive education and health examination shall be conducted more frequently with the elderly who drink but are still healthy.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-88
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• 2005

Objectives: This survey was intended to provide basic data which can be available as a baseline in the set up of dietary guidelines for assuring community-based self-support of the rural elderly, through investigation of the relationship of the various dietary consumptions with their ADL and IADL. Methods: The study subjects, 439 rural residents(male: 196, female:243) aged over 65 in Kumsan Kun and Chongyang Kun, Chungchongnamdo Province were interviewed, in June of 2004, about their sociodemographic characteristics, daily life styles, the variety of dietary consumption, ADL and IADL with the following major findings: Results: In terms of the scores' distribution to show variety of food consumption among all subjects, 68.3% got 1~3 points, 23.2% 4~6 points, and 8.4% 7~10 points with a decreasing proportion of subjects in higher points. In terms of their functional status, normal-range groups showed 93.2% of ADL and 72.9% of IADL whereas, impaired ADL group 6.8% of ADL and 27.1% of IADL, respectively. Concerning the relation of ADL and IADL with the variety of their consumed food, the greater scores for food variety was associated with the significantly higher proportion of normal ADL group and the lower proportion of impaired ADL group. Multiple logistic regression analysis with ADL and IADL as dependent variables, and food variety scores as explanatory variables, the relative risk of impaired-ADL group was 0.84 in the food variety group of 4~6 points, 0.63 in 7~10 points with no statistical significance. The relative risk of impaired- IADL group was 0.52(p<0.01) in the food variety group of 4~6 points, 0.41(p<0.05) in 7~10 points with statistical significance. Conclusions: These study results suggest that the lower dietary variety, the lower functional capacity of daily living, and the variety of dietary is associated with the functional capacity of daily living in rural elderly.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2000

This study was conducted to reveal the effects of musculoskeletal risk factor on farmer's syndrome. We sampled 97 farmers aged above 30 in 3 villages of Kyunggi-do. Self-administered questionnaire for general characteristics, farmer's syndrome, musculoskeletal risk factor, blood pressure, and laboratory tests were conducted. According to the score of musculoskeletal risk factor, we divide the subjects high risk group and low risk group. The most common musculoskeletal risk factor is repetitiveness, bending of waist and rapid movement in order. The prevalence of farmer's syndrome of all subjects is 28.9%. In female the prevalence of farmer's syndrome(45.2%) is higher than in male(16.4%) significantly. High musculoskeletal risk group had higher score of farmer's syndrome(5.9) than low musculoskeletal risk group(4.4). The most common symptom is lumbago(76.3%), the second was numb limb and shoulder stiffness(54.6%, 54.6%). The prevalence of numb limb and shoulder stiffness higher in high musculoskeletal risk group than low musculoskeletal risk group, but that of lumbago did not show significant differences. In linear regression, score of farmer's syndrome was related to musculoskeletal risk factor as well as gender. Blood pressure and laboratory test did not show significant differences between two groups. These results suggest that musculoskeletal risk factor would influence farmer's syndrome. Further ergonomic evaluation and intervention of farmer's works and musculoskeletal diseases are needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2003

Objectives: The oriental medical care has been getting popular in community health centers because of uniqueness, changing of disease patterns, and increasing of elderly population. From 1998, oriental medical doctors has been working in several rural community health centers for their military obligations. At this point of time, it is necessary to evaluate the oriental public health doctors system. This study was performed to investigate the utilization patterns, the degree of satisfactions, needs of oriental medical care service provided by community health center in a designated Gun area. This study focused on the need for extending over Myun area of community health center's oriental medical care services. Methods: Person-to-person interview survey method through a structured questionnaire was done by a personnel at a oriental medical care service room in a Gun community health center. The major statistical method used for the analysis were the t-test, ANOVA, and logistic analysis. Results: The total number of responded subjects in this study was 163 residents. Among these 65.0% were aged 61 or over, and only 13.5% recognized themselves were healthy. 73.7% of the respondents demanded establishment of more oriental medical care services provided by community health center to other Myun area. Factors affecting the need for enlargement of oriental medical care service room were education level, subjective awareness of access to community health center, and cost satisfaction of oriental medical service provided by community health center. Thus, a resident who had graduation of middle school achievement or above(OR=3.35), had a long way to center(OR=2.47), satisfied with oriental medical service cost(OR=2.78) had demonstrated increased chance of need by logistic regression analysis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to garner useful information through a comparative analysis of health behaviors and health states between the young-old and old-old elderly in a rural Korean area. Methods: We define the young-old elderly as those 65 to 74 years of age, and the old-old as those over 70. The survey was administered in October and November of 2009 at senior citizen centers in Sangju City, Kyongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The number of subjects surveyed approximated the demographics of the aged population of the administrative district of centers of 24 eup, myeon, and dong. Results: Compared with the young-old elderly, the old-old were vulnerable to population sociological characteristics. While there were many cases of contraction of diseases, only a small percentage of old-old elderly were engaged in regular exercise. In addition, the old-old elderly lagged behind the young-old in terms of physical activity, mental and oral health, hearing, and vision. Conclusions: The vulnerability of the old-old elderly in terms of physical and mental health needs to be acknowledged as various characteristics of the elderly that appears according an age group. A variety of disease prevention and health promotion programs that focus on the health behavior and status of the young-old and old-old elderly need to be developed and put into practice.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives: This study is to investigate the prevalence and related factors of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults aged 20 years and above. Methods: From the database of the $5^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) conducted in 2010, data of 5,670 adults who responded to all the questionnaires of health interview and had metabolic syndrome in the health examination were included in this analysis. SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis with complex sample survey modules and commands. Results: The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome based on the criteria proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was 18.8%. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in each group was: 20.7% of women, 43.1% among elderly over 70 years old, 40.6% of the divorced or the separated, 27.6% of recipients of economic support from the government, 23.6% of people who had alcohol dependency problem, and 43.7% of overweight or obese adults. Independent risk factors based on the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with female (odds ratio 1.59 [95% confidence interval 1.20-2.11]), age (50s 3.95 [2.11-7.37], 60s 5.62 [2.98-10.61], 70s 10.56 [5.25-21.25]), high school education (0.52 [0.37-0.74]), clerk occupation (2.14 [1.27-3.60]), divorced marital status (1.72 [1.15-2.59]), alcohol dependency (1.86 [1.16-2.98]), higher BMI (14.08 [10.60-18.70]). Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome is prevalent among Korean adult population according to IDF criteria. Several demographic characteristics and potentially modifiable factors are associated with metabolic syndrome. Identification of this high-risk group and management of these modifiable factors are warranted to reduce the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.460-474
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• 2010

This study was performed to assess the physical activity, food habit and nutrient intakes by gender and age groups in 193 adults aged 20-59 years (84 men and 109 women) in Pusan. Data for physical activity and dietary survey was assessed by a questionnaire and 24hr recall method. The mean BMIs of men and women were 24.0 and 22.2 respectively and BMI of women in the 20-29 years group (20.9) was significantly lower than that of women in the 30-49 and 50-59 years group (22.7, 23.2) (p < 0.01). 56.0% for men and 44.0% for women exercised regularly. The mean exercise duration per once of men (69.7 minutes) was significantly higher than that of women (52.4minutes) (p < 0.01). The mean exercise duration per day was 36.0 minutes for men and 29.9 minutes for women. 67.9% for men and 78.0% for women often skipped meals and 68.4% for men and 69.4% for women skipped breakfast in the main. The mean energy intake of men was 2067.2 kcal and that of women was 1783.1 kcal comprised of 87.2% and 92.1% of the Estimated Energy Requirements (EER). The mineral intakes of men and women were over Recommended Intake (RI) and Adequate Intake (AI) except calcium and potassium. The mean calcium intake was 88.3% for men and 84.0% for women of RI. The mean potassium intake was 63.3% for men and 59.2% for women of AI. The mean vitamin intakes of men and women were over RI and AI except vitamin C and folic acid. The mean vitamin C intake was 92.5% for men and 85.6% for women of RI. The mean folic acid intake was 76.6% for men and 70.0% for women of RI. The mean energy, protein, sodium and zinc intakes of men were significantly higher than those of women (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The mean vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C and folic acid intakes of men in the 20-29 years group were significantly lower than those of men in the 30-49 and 50-59 years group (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). For energy, proportions of subjects with intake levels less than 90% EER were 64.3% for men and 56.0% for women. For calcium, proportions of subjects with intake levels less than Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) were 52.4% for men and 59.6% for women. For folic acid, proportions of subjects with intake levels less than EAR were 78.6% for men and 83.5% for women. For iron and phosphorus, proportions of women (36.7%, 14.7%)with intake levels less than EAR were significantly higher than those of men (6.0%, 1.2%) (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). For men, age was positively correlated with intakes of potassium, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C and folic acid (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01). For men, weight showed significantly negative correlations with intakes of carbohydrate, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamin $B_6$ and folic acid (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and BMI showed significantly negative correlations with protein, lipid, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamin E and folic acid (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05) For men, exercise duration per once showed significantly positive correlations with intakes of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C and folic acid (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Therefore, nutritional education for adult health management is needed by gender and age groups.