• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the factors of health-related quality of life in older adults according to the type of residency. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted. The subjects were 114 institutionalized older adults and 99 community dwelling older adults. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by nurses using structured questionnaires composed of SF-36 (ver.2) and CGA-SF. Results: The institutionalized older adults had more health problems and experienced lower quality of life compared to community dwelling older adults. Factors influencing health-related quality of life for institutionalized older adults were social support, educational level, and ADL, which explained about 25.7% of the total variance, while thoseof community dwelling older adults were IADL, experiencing fall, and weight loss, which had explanatory power of 31.8%. Conclusion: These results indicate that differentiated nursing strategies according to the type of residency are required to promote health-related quality of life for older adults.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 2011

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe the prevalence of low weight and to investigate related factors contributing to low weight in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-IV), the researchers selected 2,964 older adults aged over 65. The original study was a population-based epidemiological survey of health and nutrition with a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: The prevalence of low weight in older adults was 4.7%. The prevalence of low weight was different according to demographic characteristics. That is, the rate was higher in male elders, older ones, and rural residents. In the cases of current smoking, frequent alcohol consumption and no chronic disease, the prevalence of low weight was higher. Age, gender, area of residence, and current smoking were found to be contributing factors to low weight in community-dwelling older adults. Conclusion: The result of this study provides important insights into possible reasons for low weight in community- dwelling older adults and suggests that low weight should be considered in promoting older adults' health.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.244-252
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop a knowledge scale of risk factors for fall among community-dwelling older adults. Further, the validity and reliability of the scale was developed. Methods: A preliminary scale was developed through content validity by five experts and targeted subjects using the CVI (Content Validity Index). Following the establishment of content validity, the scale was used with 359 community-dwelling older adults to further establish both validity and reliability of the scale. Specifically, construct validity using known-group comparison technique, and reliability using Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ were established. Results: After content validity testing, 44 preliminary items were selected. Construct validity was established by known group-comparison, in which scores between the fall and no fall groups were compared. The Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ of the final scale was .83. Conclusion: Reliability and validity of the scale were confirmed. This tool may be used for measuring knowledge of fall risk factor for the community-dwelling older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.655-663
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling older adults in Korea, as well as identify factors associated with their occurrence, including cognitive impairment. A cross-sectional study of 484 residents was conducted at a senior centre utilising the PHQ-9K and K-MMSE. Demographic data were also collected for analysis. Of the respondents, 38.1% had symptoms of mild to severe depression. Further, 16.7% reported having suicidal ideation, with 5% of respondents having thoughts of suicide every day. The majority of participants had 'normal' scores on the K-MMSE (88.0%), though significant differences were observed in PHQ-9K scores between cognitive-acceptable and cognitive-impaired groups. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were very prevalent in community-dwelling older adults in Korea. This study indicates the need for the development of community-based mental health programs tailored to older adults, and demonstrates the viability of promoting early detection of depressive symptoms through senior centres.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the reciprocal causal relationship between social activities and health with reference to the cognitive function level among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal data analysis using the $4^{th}$ (Time 1) and $5^{th}$ (Time 2) waves from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing adopting cross-lagged panel analysis (CLPA). Results: A total of 3,473 community-dwelling older adults were included in the analysis: 2,053 in the normal cognitive function group, 912 in the mild cognitive impairment group, and 508 in the moderate to severe cognitive impairment group. The CLPA revealed that higher levels of social activities at Time 1 significantly influenced better subjective health perception at Time 2 in all three groups. In addition, better subjective health perception at Time 1 significantly influenced higher levels of social activities at time 2 only in the normal cognitive function group. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that participating in social activities has positive effects on health regardless of the cognitive function level in community-dwelling older adults. This finding suggests that there is a need to develop strategies that can be used to encourage older adults with cognitive decline to maintain participation in social activities.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.540-545
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare level of functional independence and its correlates among community-dwelling older adults in rural areas between South Korea and the United Sates. Methods: The study employed a comparative and correlational design. Data were collected from 198 community-dwelling older adults in rural areas (South Korea=100, & US = 98). Functional independence, cognitive function, obesity and general characteristics were measured. Results: From both countries, approximately fifteen percent of older adults living independently had cognitive problems without any treatments. Among Korean older adults functional independence was associated with a number of chronic diseases and aging while in the United States the participants had a negative correlation with obesity and aging. Conclusion: For Korean older adults in rural areas, nurses should focus on monitoring older adults' abilities to manage chronic illness and designing self-management programs while in the United States the focus should be on healthy lifestyle programs about exercise and diet to increase functional independence.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.106-114
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• 2019

Background: It is difficult to assess whether community-dwelling frail older adults may remain pre-frail status or improve into a robust state without being directly checked by health care professionals. The health information perceived by older adults is considered to be one of best sources of potential concerns in older adult population. An online measurement system combined with item response theory (IRT) and computer adaptive testing (CAT) methods is likely to become a realistic approach to remotely monitor physical activity status of frail older adults. Objects: This article suggests an approach to provide a precise and efficient means of measuring physical activity levels of community-dwelling frail older adults. Methods: Article reviews were reviewed and summarized. Results: In comparison to the classical test theory (CTT), the IRT method is empirically aimed to focus on the psychometric properties of individual test items in lieu of the test as a whole. These properties allow creating a large item pool that can capture the broad range of physical activity levels. The CAT method administers test items by an algorithm that select items matched to the physical activity levels of the older adults. Conclusion: An online measurement system combined with these two methods would allow adequate physical activity measurement that may be useful to remotely monitor the activity level of community-dwelling frail older adults.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of cognitive function and depressive symptoms on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in addition to identify the factors associated with IADL in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This was a descriptive study with cross-sectional design. Data were collected from July 2013 to June 2014. A total of 143 participants without dementia, depression and disability were enrolled in this study. Cognitive function was measured using Seoul verbal learning test (SVLT), digital span (forward/backward) and fist-edge-palm test. The Korean-IADL and Short Geriatric Depression Scale (S-GDS) were used. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression. Results: Overall, a multiple regression model revealed that approximately 27.4% of total variability in IADL in the sample of community-dwelling older adults could be explained by the significant 12 variables in this model ($R^2=0.274$, F=5.467, p<.001). Age, having religion and cognitive function were the predictors of IADL in community-dwelling older adults. Conclusion: This study suggest that we need to monitor cognitive function in older to maintain the ability for IADL in older adults. Also, individualized program for improving older adults' IADL should be included in nursing intervention.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.256-264
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), evaluate factors affecting LUTS among community-dwelling older adults, and provide basic data for a community-based LUTS management program. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to November 2010 by using a structured questionnaire. Participants were 157 individuals recruited from 5 community senior centers. Results: The mean LUTS score of the older adults was 9.4 (International Prostate Symptom Score range 0-35). For each LUTS (range 0-5), nocturia was the highest (2.3). Of all older adults, 24.8% had experienced urinary incontinence more than once a month during the past 6 months. Urinary incontinence was found to be an important factor associated with LUTS. Conclusion: A community-based management program for both LUTS and urinary incontinence in community-dwelling older adults should be implemented.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The participants were 133 elderly people dwelling in a community. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and Stepwise multiple regression with SPSS. Results: The predictors of quality of life in the elderly were depression, physical symptoms, and social support. Depression and physical symptoms had a significant negative correlation with HRQoL and social support had a significant positive correlation with HRQoL. Among them, depression was shown as the most significant predictor of HRQoL in the elderly ($R^2$=.573, p<.001). Conclusion: These results indicate that strategies to relieve depression should be integrated in interventions to improve the QoL of older adults dwelling in a community residence.