• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated hand-washing practice among community-dwelling older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and aimed to identify the impact of COVID-19-related concerns and depression on hand-washing practice. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data extracted from the 2020 Community Health Survey. The primary data were collected through self-reporting from August 10 to September 8, 2020 in a cross-sectional study. The subjects comprised of 1,350 adults aged 65 or older living in Jeju Province who participated in the 2020 Community Health Survey. Results: The factors affecting hand-washing practice among older adults were male older adults (β = -.18, p < .001), age (β = -.07, p = .001), no education (β = -.20, p < .001) and elementary, middle, and high school graduation (β = -.15, p < .001) compared to a college or higher education, poor health perception (β = -.13, p < .001), COVID-19-related concerns (β = .08, p = .005), and depression (β = -.07, p = .001). To summarize, the factors negatively affecting hand-washing practice included male gender, lower education level, poor health perception, and depression. In contrast, factors positively associated with hand-washing practice included COVID-19-related concerns. Conclusion: These findings show the importance of considering these multifaceted determinants when designing targeted interventions and educational programs to promote hand-washing among older adults. Additionally, based on the relationship between hand-washing practice and COVID-19-related concerns and depression, interventions that can alleviate mental problems along with providing proper education are required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.747-755
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the degree of dry mouth and oral health-related quality of life and to identify factors contributing to oral health-related quality of life for community-dwelling elders. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was used. Participants were 156 older adults from two senior welfare centers. Data were collected on February 21, 22 and 29, 30, 2009 using structured questionnaires. Enter type multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing oral health-related quality of life according to general and oral health characteristics. Results: There were significant differences in oral health-related quality of life according to living arrangement, insurance, smoking, number of natural teeth, and denture type. The oral health-related quality of life had significant correlations with the number of chronic disease, number of medications, and dry mouth. Factors influencing oral health-related quality of life for community-dwelling older adults were dry mouth, number of chronic disease, and medical aid, which explained about 47.9% of total variance. Conclusion: These results indicate that in order to promote oral health-related quality of life for older adults, prevention or management of chronic diseases as well as oral health and dry mouth are needed for this population, and especially economically poor elders.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.67-82
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The objective of this study were to examine the determinants of self-rated health, specially focused on the effect of functional capacity of community dwelling sedentary older adults on self-rated health. Method: The data has been collected from 654 community-dwelling sedentary older adults (mean age: 75 years) during the period from April to June in 2007. The data were collected by the in-person interview and direct measurement of functional capacity. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS 9.1 program. Result: The elderly rated their health as very good (3%), good (28%), fair (38%), poor (29%0, and very poor (2%). The higher average daily walk minutes ($\beta$=0.12, p<.01), number of chair stand ($\beta$=0.10, p<.05), scores of self-efficacy ($\beta$=0.16, p<.001) and the lower number of disease ($\beta$=-0.44, p<.001) show better self-rated health. Conclusion: Self-rated health is the most commonly used indicators in social epidemiology and geriatric research because it has been known as the good predictor of mortality and reflects health related disability. The finding suggested that daily walking habits, lower body strength, physical self-efficacy should be considered to improve the senior's self-perception of health. The community-based intervention associate increase these factors should be considered.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.22-32
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This research was conducted to determine the effects of fall prevention exercise and education on physical fitness, fall efficacy, and fall prevention behavior among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study applied nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Data were collected from January 8th to March 4th, 2015. There were 24 subjects in the experimental group and 21 in the control group from two different senior citizen center in B city. The fall prevention program consisted of exercise, education, and telephone coaching was developed using self-efficacy theory: 'Performance accomplishment', 'Vicarious experience', 'Verbal persuasion', 'Emotional arousal'. Then, it was conducted once a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed with $x^2$ test and t-test using the SPSS program. Results: The findings indicated that fall prevention program conducted on older adults is good for improving their muscular strength in lower extremities (t=6.25, p<.001), physical balance (t=2.66, p=.014), physical flexibility (t=2.88, p<.001) and fall prevention behavior (t=6.19, p<.001). Conclusion: The fall prevention program can be used for community-dwelling older adults as a nursing intervention that enables older adults to enhance their self-care continuously. It is necessary to conduct a follow-up study to see if a self-help meeting could improve self-efficacy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.453-467
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the cumulative effects of depressive symptoms on cognitive function over time in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Data were investigated from 2,533 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from the 5th (2014) to the 8th wave (2020). The association between cumulative depressive symptoms and cognitive function was identified through multiple regression analysis. Results: When the multiple regression analysis was conducted from each wave, the current depressive symptoms scores and cognitive function scores were negatively associated, regardless of the waves (B5th = - 0.26, B6th = - 0.26, B7th = - 0.26, and B8th = - 0.27; all p < .001). Further, when all the previous depressive symptoms scores were added as explanatory variables in the 8th wave, the current one (B8th = - 0.09, p < .001) and the previous ones (B5th = - 0.11, B6th = - 0.09, and B7th = - 0.13; all p < .001) were also negatively associated with the cognitive function score. The delta R², which indicates the difference between the model's R² with and without the depressive symptoms scores, was greater in the model with all the previous and current depressive symptoms scores (6.4%) than in the model with only the current depressive symptoms score (3.6%). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms in older adults have a long-term impact. This results in an accumulated adverse effect on the cognitive function. Therefore, to prevent cognitive decline in older adults, we suggest detecting their depressive symptoms early and providing continuous intervention to reduce exposure to long-term depressive symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.437-444
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from May 10 to August 17, 2007. Physical symptoms were measured using the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ), activities of daily living using the Late-Life Functional and Disability Instrument (LLFDI), and HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 242 community-dwelling elderly Korean people. Results: The HRQoL correlates with the physical symptoms (r=-.31) and the function component (r=.59). Of the two disability parts of the LLFDI, the limitation dimension correlates higher (r=.57) with HRQoL than the frequency dimension (r=.42). The HRQoL is significantly associated with the function component, and disability limitation in capability which explained 44.4% of variance in physical health. Conclusion: These results may contribute to a better understanding of physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and HRQoL in community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, health programs for prompting older adult's health should be planned based on results of the study.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.61-78
• /
• 2021

Background and Objective: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) increases the risk of negative health outcomes, including drug-related admissions. Tools for structured medication review have been developed to ensure optimal medication use and safety. Here, we aimed to evaluate medication use review (MUR) tools for community-dwelling older patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA). We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 1991 to 2020, excluding tools that are specifically applied to hospitalized patients or nursing home residents. We identified the most common inappropriate medications, drug-disease interactions, drug-drug interactions and prescribing omissions presented among tools. Results: From among 9,788 identified reports screened, 60 met our inclusion criteria; finally, 27 were eligible for data analysis considering originality and up-to-dateness. Most tools presented explicit criteria (93%), and only one was specific to community-dwelling elderly. The most common PIM was tricyclic antidepressants. Use of diltiazem and verapamil in patients with heart failure and the combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics and warfarin were the most frequent disease-specific PIM and drug-interaction, respectively. Conclusions: Although several medication review tools have been developed for older adults, specific guidelines for community-dwelling populations remain limited. Furthermore, the list of PIMs differed among available tools. In future, specific but integrating MUR tools need to be developed for clinical practice considering this population.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.295-309
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study were to identify the dietary practices of vulnerable older adults and to assess the foodservice and food provision service programs perceived by the health and welfare service providers in the community. A survey was conducted on health and welfare service providers working in outreach community centers and community health centers in Seoul. A total of 260 nurses and social workers participated in the survey and 224 responses were used for data analysis after excluding significant missing data. The respondents consisted of nurses (58.5%) and social workers (41.5%). In terms of the dietary life of the vulnerable older adults, they perceived that the food cost was burdensome to the older adults and poor dental conditions prohibited them from eating various foods. The health and welfare service providers rated highly for 'home-delivered meal and side dish services are effective for checking older adults' conditions' but rated low for availability of menu choices. In targeting vulnerable older adults for food and nutrition service programs, the home-delivered meal service was found to be suitable for older adults living alone, those over age of 80 years, those with mobility difficulties, and those with economic difficulties. The food provision service was appropriate for older adults living with their spouse or other family members. Vulnerable older adults are a heterogeneous population with diverse needs related to food and nutrition. Home-delivered meal/side dish service and food provision services will achieve their goals when they reach the correct targets with a customized service.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.415-427
• /
• 2019

This study examined the effects of eating with others on depressive symptoms among the community-dwelling older adults by family arrangement, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 7th (2016). A total of 1,233 older adults aged over 65 was included in this analysis. Eating status (alone / with others) and family arrangement (living alone / living with family) were dichotomized based on the original questionnaire. Among 955 older adults who live with family members, 855 persons (89.5%) eat together and 100 persons (10.5%) eat alone. Among 278 older adults who live alone, 86 persons (30.9%) eat together and 69 persons (69.1%) eat alone. Regression analysis controlling for demographic and health related factors, eating with others was significantly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms in the group of older adults who live with family members (β = -1.663, p <.001), while there is no statistical significance (β = -0.856, p = .148) in the counterpart. Therefore, various types of community-based programs need to be developed to encourage older adults to eat with other in their ordinary lives. It is also recommended that the community has to offer consistent care and support for the elderly particularly who live alone.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.377-388
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study was to examine the relation between diabetes and cognitive function in older adults. Methods: Eighty community-dwelling patients with diabetes and 506 subjects without diabetes were studied with cognitive function test. Cognitive function was measured by Full-scale IQ, Basic IQ, Executive IQ, Attention Function Index, Working Memory Index, Language Function Index, Visuospatial Function Index, Memory Function Index, and MMSE-K1. Results: In model controlling for education, the diabetic group showed significantly lower scores than the non-diabetic group in in Full-scale IQ (p=.012), Basic IQ (p=.034), Executive IQ (p=.014), Attention Function Index (p=.002), Working Memory Index (p=.037), and Memory Function Index (p=.043). The diabetic and non-diabetic groups that were matched for gender, age, and education showed similar differences in 7 out of 9 cognitive measures. The impairments of Full-scale IQ and Memory Function Index in the diabetic group were, respectively, 2.7 and 2.8 times greater than that in the diabetic group. Conclusion: These results showed that diabetes should be considered to a factor of cognitive impairment in older adults.