• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This descriptive study investigated the mediating and moderating effects of fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge and fall prevention behaviors among older adults Methods: We enrolled 229 older adults residing in a senior citizen hall and community welfare center, and investigated their health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge, fall prevention behavior, and fear of fall. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze differences in variables. Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate mediating and moderating effects of the fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge, and fall prevention behaviors. Results: The fear of fall significantly mediated the health belief on fall and fall prevention behaviors, but there was no significant mediation between knowledge of fall and fall prevention behaviors. The fear of fall did not have a moderating effect on the relationships between health belief on fall, knowledge of fall, and fall prevention behaviors. Conclusion: It is important to investigate and implement health belief on fall and fear of fall among older adults to improve their fall prevention behaviors.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.68-78
• /
• 2002

This study intended to analyze the health promoting behaviors by comparing various factors according to the residence areas(Korea or Japan) of Korean Elderly. and to present basic data in planning systematic and effective programs of health promotion for each residence area. The subjects of this study were 164 Korean elders in Daegu, South Korea, and 164 elders in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Data was collected by interviews and self-administered questionnaires from the 1st to the 20th of April in 2000. The tool for this study was based on Walker et al.(1987)'s Health Promotion lifestyle Profiles (HPLP). The analysis was performed with Cronbach's $x^2-test$, t-test. ANCOVA, Kendal tau, Pearson correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression test using SPSS program. The results are as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in occupation($x^2$=41.3. p=0.000), the source of the pocket money($x^2$=114.36. p=0.000) by the residence areas in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. 2. There was a significant difference between the two groups on the health promoting behaviors(t=-8.19. p=0.000). The score of elders group in the South Korean group on health promoting behaviors was 2.32. showing 0.33 lower than that of the elders group in Japan(2.65). 3. ANCOVA involving occupation and the source of pocket money as co-variables. showed significant differences (F=15.37. p=0.000) regarding health promoting behaviors according to the residence areas. 4. In consideration of variables that have an influence on health promoting behavior by residence areas, pocket money occupied 11.5% of health promoting behavior in the elders group in South Korea. In the elders group in Japan, pocket money occupied 18.1% of health promoting behavior and 20.6% including education. The suggestions based on the results of this study are as follows.: 1. It is necessary to develop health promoting programs considering the residence areas of Korean elders. 2. It is necessary to develop social programs for improving the education level and solving pocket money problems, which are the significant factors for the health promoting behavior of Korean elders.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.87-101
• /
• 2007

Health and disease related characteristics of 226 selected by systematic sampling from 452 personal emergency response system(PERS) beneficiaries and actual conditions of using PERS by them are as follows. Over 86% of PERS beneficiaries have not good health conditions and 70.7% of them have chronic diseases. On social supports family was highest as 52.2% and cases having social workers' assistance were 15.2%, but 53 as 23.7% had not visit or call from anyone and showed very low social supports. 86.2% was given PERS within 3years and 79.1% had it by the recommendation from related agencies and 4.0% was by their demand. On wearing it, 78.3% didn't bring it with them and 92% of them answered they were not sick and then it was found that they didn't use it because they had not special emergency. On satisfaction with paging system's operation, 81.3% answered they were satisfied with it, 48.8% used it for 'acute and emergency diseases' and 29.3% called ambulance for 'appointed medical treatment'. Time required for ambulance to arrive at the field was within 10 min. in 87.8% and after 10 min. in 12.2% and emergency service for beneficiaries by fire service was very good. On satisfaction with use of PERS, 85.4% were satisfied with it, 81.9% who requested repair or replacement of radio paging got it back after one or two days of their request and they answered they were satisfied with A/S. 45.5% answered they powered off it because 'they didn't use it' and 12.1% had 'economical reason of phone charge'.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.589-612
• /
• 2019

Korea has undergone rapid modernization and globalization process in the last few decades. The purpose of this study is to explore how shifting traditional values are impacting Korean elderlies and their perceptions of aging experience. In order to understand how changing social and cultural practices are affecting older adults, the similarities and differences among Korean elderlies living in three different geographical locations are examined in a multidimensional comparative framework. Life story interviews were conducted with 30 Korean elderlies (10 urban residents in Korea, 10 rural residents in Korea, and 10 residents in the US). Paying attention to within-group variation, this study particularly focused on analyzing the psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual experiences that made lives meaningful and resilient in old age in spite of physical decline. Based on analysis of narrative, the following major areas were identified as having positive or negative influence on aging experiences: physical health, emotional health, family relationship, work, leisure/social activity, and spirituality. Common themes of aging well across all settings included: "life not indebted to their offspring," "physical and mental health," and "dying well." Spirituality played a critical role in cultivating perspectives on life and accepting aging process, which were rooted in specific religious traditions participants identified (e.g., Christianity or Buddhism). Interesting differences in the meaning of work and leisure were also found between elderlies residing in Korea and the US immigrant context. One unique factor continuing to negatively affect Korean elderly in rural community was related to shame of not obtaining higher education. Implications for future research are also addressed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.168-176
• /
• 2020

Objectives : Loneliness and poor sleep quality are common phenomena in old age and are associated with negative physical and mental health. However, little is known regarding the relation between loneliness and sleep quality. The aim of this study was to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality among the elderly living alone. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,090 subjects who are the community-residing elderly living alone. Sociodemographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder, sleep quality and levels of loneliness were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a specific semi-structured interview conducted by trained nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data regarding sociodemographic variable and loneliness. Univariate and Multivariate regression analyses were applied to examine the association between loneliness and sleep quality after adjustment for multiple confounding variables. Results : The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) mean score of "lonely group" (9.2±4.2) was significantly higher than that of "not lonely group" (7.3±3.7) (student-t test, p<0.001). Loneliness was significantly associated with PSQI (standardized β=0.065, p=0.025), sleep disturbance (standardized β=0.086, p=0.005), use of sleep medication (standardized β=0.065, p=0.034) after adjustment for possible confounding variables including sex and mood disorder. Conclusions : Loneliness was associated with sleep disturbance and this finding implied negative impact of loneliness on sleep quality of older adults. Public health promotion efforts to reduce loneliness may improve sleep quality and mental health in the elderly living alone.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.99-119
• /
• 2006

Objectives: This study intends to understand the difference within group of social support level and the effect of social support to health behaviors and health status of the elderly by selecting the old of local society as target. Methods: Data were obtained from self-administered questionnaire of 8,688 persons, older than 65 years, living in a community. We measured the sociodemographic characteristics, social support(family support, other support, quality of support), physical health state(subjective health status, number of chronic disease), physical function state(activities of daily living; ADL, instrumental activities of daily living; IADL), cognition state(mini-mental state examination-Korean; MMSE-K) and depression state(short form of geriatric depression scale; SGDS), health behaviors(smoking, drinking, exercise, eating habit). Univariate, multinominal logistic regression and covariance structure analysis were employed to analyze factors affecting on the social support of the elderly. Results: When considering the degree of social support by the sociodemographic characteristics of the older adults, the family support, other support and quality of support is better when the old is male, young, high education and self-reported living status is good and it has significance statistically. When considering the relation between social support and health status, the family support, other support and quality of support is better when the old's subjective and objective physical health status is good. The family support, other support and quality of support is better when the old's subjective health status is better. The other support and quality of support is better when the old's ADL(activities of daily living) and IADL(instrumental activities of daily living) are good. The family support, other support and quality of support is better when the old's cognitive function and depression state is better. When considering the relation between social support and health behaviors, in case of smoking and drinking, the quality of support, family support and other support is better when the old smokes and drinks rather than the old does not. In case of exercise and eating habit, the family support, other support and quality of support is better when the old exercises and eats regularly rather than the old does not. It has significance statistically. From the result of performing covariance structure analysis by structural equation modeling(SEM) with two endogenous variable(health behaviors and health status) and one exogenous variable(social support), factor loading of health status is 0.74 and factor loading of health behaviors is 0.05. The social support explains health status of 55.4% and health behaviors of 2.9%. Conclusions: This study has the meaning that it finds the difference of social support generating from inside of the group for the old residing in city and country and specifies the effect that the difference of social support influences to health status and health behaviors. From now on, in the development of health improvement strategy of the olds, it is necessary to approach from inclusive aspect while considering psychosocial factor such as social support and social economical factor as well as health status.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.76-86
• /
• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the frequency of urinary incontinence among the rural elderly people and its related factors. Methods: Informations have been obtained through interviews from the 464 rural residents of advanced age over 65 years on September 1st through November 30th, 2007, in Chungnam Province. Results: As for the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence, the group with the experience rate of 「every day」 were 9.5% and 「occasionally」 35.5%, with the total of 45.0%. The higher rates of urinary incontinence were in the elderly women(58.5%) than in the elderly men (29.8%), in the more advanced in age, in the higher educated, and in the groups with higher monthly income. Based on life styles, the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence was significantly higher in smoking groups and non-drinking groups. Based on subjective senses of health, it was more highly associated with the groups who reported that they were not healthy, that they concerned themselves about health, that they had physical disability, that they had forgetfulness, and they needed assistance in terms of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living(IADL) than their respective counterparts. By the result of multiple logistic regression, sex, age, smoking status, anxiety, physical disability, amnesia, and IADL was indicated the affecting factors to the prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusions: The above results reveal that the rate of urinary incontinence was higher in the elderly women than the elderly men, and in more advanced age. Moreover, its rate increases in the groups with undesirable life styles or lower senses of subjective and physical health conditions. It is highly suggested that efforts to manage urinary incontinence of the elderly need to be narrowed to the more advanced, especially those with lower standards of health conditions.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.57-72
• /
• 2018

Objective : This study aims to identify the self-reported driving abilities of elderly drivers and their correlations to the demographic factors that influence them, and to verify the adequacy of the hypothetical model, constructed based on vision, auditory, cognition, motor, and psychological factors, in order to present a path model on the self-reported driving abilities of elderly drivers. Methods : The participants in this study were 122 elderly drivers aged 65 years or older residing in the community. This study evaluated the following factors of the participants: Vision and hearing, motor ability, cognitive ability, depression, self-reported driving abilities. Results : The results of this study are as follows. In the case of men, the self-reported driving ability score was higher than for women, and those driving 6-7 days per week had higher scores than those driving 3 days or less. The period of holding a driver's license and driving experience positively correlated with self-reported driving abilities. The final model of factors influencing the self-reported driving abilities of elderly drivers had a p value (.911) exceeding .05; TLI (1.202), NFI (.949), and CFI (1.000) of over .90; and RMSEA (.000) of lower than 0.1, indicating that the hypothesis model fit the data well. First, the directly influential factors on the self-reported driving abilities of elderly drivers were depression, decreased hearing, and grip strength. Second, age was found to have a direct influence on depression and grip strength; moreover, depression and grip strength as a mediator indirectly influenced their self-reported driving abilities. Third, depression was found to have a direct influence on their delayed cognitive processing and grip strength. Conclusion : The significance of this study is in the identification of direct and indirect factors influencing the self-reported driving abilities of elderly drivers in regional communities, and in the verification of multi-dimensional effects of diverse factors influencing such abilities.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.49-66
• /
• 2002

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercise treatment program for the older women with stress incontinence. The researcher developed 8 weeks training program which was implemented at a social welfare center in Seoul. The exercise method followed the Kegel criteria. Verbal instructions were given to the subjects. Subjects were confirmed of the exercises and evaluated by description of the exercise method. Fourteen elderly women(mean age 75.7) with stress incontinence participated and completed this program. The training sessions were held twice a week and each session took 45 minutes ; 15 minutes for pelvic floor muscle strengthening program and 30 minutes for other physical therapy. Pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercise program was applied using verbal instruction and practice at social welfare center, twice a week and daily home exercise program were given to each individual. The results were as follows ; 1. There was significant decrease of lower urinary symptoms in the subjects (p = 0.00) 2 But there was no significant change in the sexual matters (p = 0.44) and the life style (p = 0.41) In conclusion, further study with larger sample group is suggested in order to confirm the study result. Because of limited sample size, the study results were not conclusive. But the pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercise treatment program could be a safe and effective program and is suggestive for the community residing older women with stress incontinence as a geriatric physical therapy intervention.

• 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.