• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.676-685
• /
• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the abilities to act and fear of falling in home-dwelling elderly. Methods: This study interviewed 351 home-dwelling elders residing in Seoul and Gyonggi-do using a Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly. Results: Of the 351 subjects, 203(57.8%) had activity restrictions. The main three activities that the subjects could not perform were going out when it is slippy, reaching something overhead and walking crowded places outside. According to general characteristics, performable activities were significantly fewer in subjects perceiving that their health status was low that those perceiving that their health status was high. On a scale of 3 points for fear of falling, the average score of the subjects was 1.46. The highest score of fear of falling was 2.62 for the activity of going out when it is slippery, next 1.87 for the activity of reaching something overhead. There was a significant inverse relationship between subjects' abilities to act and fear of falling. Conclusions: The significant variables associated with fear of falling were gender(female), educational background, economic status (low-income), and experience of falls during the last one year. Thus further study is necessary, focused on the vulnerable population in order to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was to find out knowledge, fear, and efficacy of fall in the community dwelling elderly and to investigate how the factors were connected to one another. Methods: Data were collected from June to August, 2009 from 101 aged people who aged 65 or older and agreed to participate in this study sampled among elders at 8 halls of the aged in local communities. The subjects were interviewed by a co-researcher and 3 trained assistants in a way of responding to the questionnaire after being read. The data were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Turkey's test and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Knowledge of fall was affected significantly by whether the living cost was provided or not, fear of fall was affected by sex, level of education, hearing impairment and regular exercise, and efficacy of fall was affected by age, sex, marital status, level of education, hearing impairment, vertigo and regular exercise. The results also showed a negative correlation between fear of fall and efficacy of fall. Conclusion: According to this study, regular exercise can build up knowledge and efficacy of fall and diminish fear of fall. Thus it is highly recommended to include regular exercise in an effective fall-prevention program.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.141-149
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors of accidental falls by age in the Korean elderly. Methods: The study subjects included 10,242 community-dwelling elders aged 65 or over. The data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results: The risk factors of accidental falls in the younger old group (aged 65~74) include fear of falling (OR=16.28, 95% CI: 12.03~22.03), depression (OR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.06~1.44), and hearing impairment (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.01~1.43). The risk factors of accidental falls in the older old group (aged 75~84) include fear of falling (OR=11.54, 95% CI: 7.04~18.93), muscle strength (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.15~1.60), number of chronic disease (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.09~2.50), and presence of spouse (OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06~1.51). The risk factors of accidental falls in the oldest old group (aged 85 years old or older) include fear of falling (OR=8.05, 95% CI: 1.85~34.98) and exercise (OR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.36~6.24). Fear of falling is defined as a common factor in the all age groups. Conclusion: Different strategies should be developed for age groups to prevent elderly falls with understanding of contributing factors of falls in each group.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.151-160
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was to investigate depression in Korean-Chinese elder living in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted using face to face private interviews for elders aged over 59, who have been dwelling in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. The samples consisted of 183 Korean-Chinese and 182 Han-Chinese with the latter as a reference group. Data were collected from August 25 to September 20, 2011 and analyzed with the SPSS 18.0 program. The GDS (Geriatric Depression Scale) was used to measure elderly depression in the subjects. Results: In Korean-Chinese, the rate of depression was higher in those who had lower educational levels, and were economically supported by the government. And those who had depression showed lower scores in Chinese language proficiency, health status, and social supports, and had more chronic diseases. Factors having effects on Korean-Chinese elderly depression included perceived health status and subjective support. Conclusion: According to the results, for preventing the depression of Korean-Chinese, it is necessary to develop health management programs and social support networks, which were easy to approach.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.62-73
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify differences in BMI between early and late elderly people, and factors having influence of them. Methods: This study is an analysis of secondary data that used the raw materials from the KNHANES from 2008 to 2010. The subjects involved in the final analysis were 4,772 elders aged 65 or higher. Descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test and F-test, and CSGLM from the complex sample design were used for the data analysis with SPSS/WIN 19.0. Results: Significant differences were observed in the socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and diet habits between early and late elderly people. Adjusted for gender, location of residence, and living alone, the factors that affected BMI of the early elderly people included current smoking status, number of disease, difficulty in chewing, and number of meals per day while those that affected BMI of the late elderly people were current smoking status, number of disease, self-rated health, and difficulty in chewing. Conclusion: The study concludes that we should consider age-specific traits for monitoring the weight status of the elderly and providing appropriate weight management programs for the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to describe about elders with dementia, their families, and their living environment by visiting the households where demented elders resided. The findings will be used as a basis to develop future individualized adjustment programs for demented elders and their families living in communities. The study participants were 64 demented elders and their families who were registered to a dementia counseling center at Nam-Gu community health center located in Inchon, Korea. Data were collected for two months, from May to June 2001. The length of data collection for each home visit ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Conclusion are as follows based on these study findings: Those demented elders had more than one chronic health problem in addition to their pre-existing dementia condition. Two thirds of the demented elders were not receiving any specific treatment for dementia. They showed a moderate level of independence in basic ADL, but were mostly residing at home because of lack of ability to perform more delicate and complicate routine daily activities by themselves. In addition, the primary caregivers were not well adjusted to the care-giving activities for their demented family members due to the lack of knowledge and information about dementia. The caregivers were mostly women including daughters-in-law, woman spouses and daughters, over a half of whom perceived their physical and mental health status as poor. Their image toward the demented elders was considerably negative. while their level of knowledge on dementia was moderate. The burden for the care-giving was high, whereas their coping method was passive. As the difference in image toward elderly before and after the onset of dementia in their family member increases, the caregiver burden also increased. The main resource of social support for the caregivers was their children. The caregivers showed high level of needs for knowledge and information on dementia, and day care service was the most preferred type of service by the caregivers. There was lack of safety in the living environments for the demented elders and their families, and in the surrounding environments to prevent dementia-related symptoms. Considering that home-based family care-giving is the most culturally appropriate model of providing care for the demented elders in Korea, we need to develop and apply an individualized adjustment program for the demented elders and their families.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.249-259
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the foot-reflexology massage on sleep, depression and constipation in community-dwelling elders. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. Participants were 46 old adults, aged >65 years who were recruited from two senior welfare centers in D metropolitan city (experimental group=24, control group=22). The intervention was conducted in 10 sessions over 2 weeks, taking 20 min per session. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2-test$, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient with the SPSS 22.0 Windows program. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in sleep (t=-5.60, p<.001), depression (t=3.93, p<.001), and constipation (t=4.90, p<.001) after 2 weeks of the foot-reflexology massage. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the foot-reflexology massage is an effective intervention program for improving sleep, depression and constipation of old adults.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.150-161
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the influencing factors of cognitive function and depression in elderly. Method: From 3 provinces, 282 elders who resided in community and facilities completed structured questionnaires, including cognitive functions, depression, self-esteem, ADL, and IADL. Data were analyzed by applying ${\chi}^2$-test, ANOVA, partial correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis with SAS 8.12. Results: Community dwelling aged people showed higher scores in MMSE-K, self-esteem, ADL and IADL, and showed lower scores in depression than facility elders. MMSE-K was positively correlated in self-esteem, ADL, and personal cognition of health, except depression. Major factors that affect cognitive function of elderly were residual type, age, and IADL. In addition, major factors that affect depression of elderly were self-esteem, personal cognition of health, and marital status. Conclusions: Based on the results above, it is necessary to identify the status of cognition and depression in the elderly, and to develop nursing intervention programs, which improve cognitive function and reduce depression for aged, especially for the facility admitted aged.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.136-147
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the degree of depression between men and women and to identify factors influencing their depression. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 263 persons over 65 years old (men: 103, women: 160). Data were collected through face to face interviews using questionnaires and were done in two urban areas in 2010. Research instruments utilized in this study were SGDS, MMSE-K, SRH, FILE, sleep pattern scale, family and friend support scale, and social support scale. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing depression in elders. Results: The proportions of participants with depression were significantly different between men and women (52.4% vs. 67.5%). Regression model for depression in elderly men significantly accounted for 54%; disease stress (32%), economic stress (10%), perceived health status (4%), and family support, educational level, age, and hypertension. Regression model for depression in elderly women significantly accounted for 47%; disease stress (25%), perceived social loneliness (8%), friend support (5%), family stress (4%), and sleep satisfaction, and family support. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that depression is an important health problem for elders, and show gender differences for factors influencing depression. These results could be used in the developing depression prevention programs.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.371-381
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop the day care program for the demented elders and to determine the effects of multiple activity therapies on the physical, emotional, cognitive, social function and physiological indicators of dementia elders in day care center. Method: A total of 13 elders with mild dementia in the data care center were participated. Manual and guideline of data care program was developed. Data care program was composed of movement/exercise, foot massage, music therapy, horticultural therapy, and art therapy. Data care program was performed by trained intervener for 32 weeks. Instruments were physical functioning such as hand grip strength., vital capacity, chiar stand test, sit and reach test, one leg standing, Berg' Balance scale, 6m Walk Velocity, stair climb, ADL, GDS-K, MMSE-K, Integrative Social Functioning Scale, cortisol, Ig A and Ig G. These were measured at the baseline, 16-week, and 32-week post-intervention by the trained nurses. Data were analyzed as Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: For Hand grip, balance, and vital capacity, there was a significant difference between baseline and 16-week post-intervention(p<.05). For one leg standing, 6m velocity, there was a significant difference between 16-week post-intervention and 32-week post-intervention(p<.05). For Stair climb, there was a significant difference between baseline and 32-week post-intervention(p<.05). For depression and social functioning, there was no significant difference among baseline, 16-week, and 32-week post-intervention. For cognitive functioning, there was a significant difference between baseline and 32-week post intervention(p<.05). There was a significant difference of cortisol, and Ig G between baseline and 32-week post-intervention(p<.05). Conclusion: It would appear that physical fitness, functional performance, ADL, depression, social and cognitive functioning, and physiological indicator of community dwelling elders with dementia can be improved through day care program using multiple stimuli.