• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.540-554
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• 2021

Purpose: Most of the currently used concepts and measurements of social support have been relevant for general population. The main purpose of this study is to conduct the concept analysis of perceived social support(PSS) of family caregivers for people with dementia. Methods: This study adopted the Walker and Avant concept analysis methodology. Results: Findings from this concept analysis suggested four defining attributes of PSS of family caregivers for people with dementia: 1) PSS is help or assistance that family caregivers perceive as available when needed; 2) PSS is offered through socio-ecological structure; 3) PSS has a specific function to meet the needs of family caregivers; and 4) PSS includes quality aspects where family caregivers choose, use, or evaluate it. Borrowing from the socio-ecological model, this study proposed the structural aspects of PSS. This study also identified functional aspects of PSS, such as emotional support, informational support, appraisal support, and practical support. Finally, this study assessed quality aspects of PSS, such as satisfaction, timeliness, usefulness, accessibility, and coordination. Conclusion: Focusing on family caregivers for people with dementia, we proposed a new model of PSS. The present study helped refine and clarify the concept of PSS of family caregivers for people with dementia. The results of this study may also contribute to promoting the development of more effective instruments for the concept.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1117-1127
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• 2010

The aims of the study is to identify levels of burden, coping ability and health related quality of life and relationships among family caregivers who care dementia elderly using daycare center. Subjects were all major caregivers from conveniently selected 8 daycare center for dementia in a middle size city in Korea and final analyzed sample was 93. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaire from April to June, 2010. This study's results include the followings. First, the result indicated that mean score of health related quality of life among respondents was 69.34(SD 12.04). Secondly, there were significant differences in caregiver burden by age, education level, occupation and coping ability by education level and monthly income, health related quality of life by age, type of marriage, relation with dementia elderly. Finally, we can found significant negative relationships health related quality of life with caregiver burden and coping ability. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that the program about development of intervention to reduce caregiver burden and to improve coping ability should consider for advanced health related quality of life of dementia elderly's caregiver.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: Each item in the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) questionnaire has differential importance to an individual's life functioning based on gender. However, IADL has mostly been utilized for its total score alone, without gender specificity. We identify the impact of each item on the transition from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) to Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD), and determine if the impact of each item differs by gender. Methods: Subjects were aMCI or ADD with a global clinical dementia rating of 0.5 or 1. The sample size was 146 men and 154 women. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the effect of each item of IADL on the transition from aMCI to ADD. Results: The odds ratio (OR) for "remembering recent events" had similar values: 27.2 for men, and 27.7 for women. Gender difference was identified in the item with the highest OR value. For women, the "using transportation" item was 63.3, and for men, "conducting financial affairs" was overwhelmingly high at 89.1. Conclusions: Functional decline on items with relatively higher ORs may indicate higher probability of a transition from aMCI to ADD. The OR of "conducting financial affairs" was relatively higher for both genders. In terms of gender differences, "conducting home repair" for men, and "using transportation" for women, have relatively higher impact. This study demonstrates that during the transition from aMCI to ADD, each item of IADL shows a staggered decline in functioning, and that this decline is gender-specific.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2006

The case of a 66- year-old woman with coexisting idiopathic basal ganglia calcification(IBGC) and dementia was presented. The calcification was detected in bilateral basal ganglia, dentate nucleus, and thalamus by brain imaging. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were normal. The underlying diseases of calcification of basal ganglia such as parathyroid dysfunction and other infectious, toxic, or metabolic illness were excluded. The patient had memory impairment and frontal executive dysfunction without aphasia, agnosia, apraxia, and visuospatial impairment in neuropsychological test. It suggested that the cognitive impairment might be due to the dysfunction of frontal-subcortical circuit.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most representative neurodegenerative diseases, has diverse neurobiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. Treatment strategies targeting a single mechanism have repeated faced failures because the mechanism of neuronal cell death is very complex that is not fully understood yet. Since complex mechanisms exist to explain AD, a variety of diagnostic biomarkers for diagnosing AD are required. Moreover, standardized evaluations for comprehensive diagnosis using neuropsychological, imaging, and laboratory tools are needed. In this review, we summarize the latest clinical, neuropsychological, imaging, and laboratory evaluations to diagnose patients with AD based on our own experience in conducting a prospective study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

PURPOSE: To summarize the evaluation tools of balance [Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and Go (TUG), forward reaching test (FRT)], gait [6 m walking Test (6MWT)], and strength [Chair Stand Test (CST)] for patients with dementia. METHODS: The following databases were searched: Pub MED, Cochrane, Sciences Direct, and Web of Sciences. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) repeated measurement design, 2) subjects with dementia, 3) use of testing tools such as the BBS, TUG, FRT, 6MWT, and CST, 4) report the reliability. One reviewer performed the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy study and two evaluators performed data extraction independently. RESULTS: Six articles and one letter were included. The interrater reliability of 6MWT, TUG, and CST, were acceptable (ICC>.90). However, FRT had unacceptable reliability. In test-retest reliability, only BBS has acceptable reliability (ICC>.90). Others had various reliabilities. The risk of interrater reliability bias was low in all studies. However, the risk of bias of intrarater reliability was low in five studies and moderate in two studies. CONCLUSION: The interrater reliability of the 6MWT, TUG, and CST were acceptable. However, in test-retest reliability, only BBS has acceptable reliability. Therefore, we suggest the use of BBS to test the balance of dementia patients. In addition, the study of tool reliability according to the subtype of dementia is needed in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2017

Purpose: This study attempts to examine the effects of a horticultural program on activities of daily living (ADL) and depression among older patients with mild dementia. Methods: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design-based nonequivalent control group pretest and posttest design, enrolling 30 older patients with mild dementia. The Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale was utilized, while the data was collected from the experimental group for 60 minutes, twice weekly for 6 weeks in 12 sessions. ADL and depression were assessed for both the experimental and the control group. Overall functions were assessed only for the experimental group. Results: The experimental group showed improvement in physical function, cognitive function, as well as psychological, emotional function and social function following each session (p<.001). The horticulture program was effective in both ADL ($Z^2=5.65$, p<.001) and depression (t=-5.24, p<.001). Conclusion: In this study, the horticultural therapy based on the Cox's interaction model had positive effects for older patients with mild dementia. Therefore, horticultural therapy may be commendably applied to older patients with mild dementia as a nursing intervention.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.167-181
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• 2018

Purpose: We developed and tested the effects of a coping skill training program for caregivers in feeding difficulty among older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects comprised 34 caregivers (experimental group: 17, control group: 17) and 40 older adults with dementia (experimental group: 20, control group: 20). The developed program was delivered in 4-hour sessions over 6 weeks (including 2 weeks of lectures and lab practice on feeding difficulty coping skills, and 4 weeks of field practice). Data were collected before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the program (January 3 to April 6, 2016). The data were analyzed using t-test and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: Compared to their counterparts in the control group, caregivers in the experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in feeding knowledge and feeding behavior, while older adults with dementia showed greater improvements in feeding difficulty and Body Mass Index. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that this coping skill training program for caregivers in feeding difficulty is an effective intervention for older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a mobile application on quality of life, wellness, and preventive behaviors against dementia among older adults who use senior citizen centers. Methods: Seventy-two older adults who used senior citizen centers were allocated to an intervention group (n = 36) and a control group (n = 36). The experimental treatment involved a cognitive enhancement program for preventing dementia using a mobile application for 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using the t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, and independent t-test. Results: The cognitive enhancement program based on a mobile application was effective for wellness (t = -3.87, p < .001) and preventive behaviors against dementia (t = -3.98, p < .001) for older adults who used a senior center. Conclusion: The mobile application-based cognitive enhancement program developed in this study is recommended as an effective intervention for dementia prevention in older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2016

PURPOSE: Many studies have reported the improvement of cognition through physical activity among subject with dementia. This study aimed to whether the current studies supports that physical activity intervention is efficacious on cognitive performance in subject with dementia. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched National assembly library, RISS, KISS (2005-2015) using the concepts of dementia, exercise, and physical activity. We included randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of physical activity in subject with dementia. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the effect sizes cognition with CMA (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, version 2.2.064) soft-ware program. Nine randomized controlled trials were included, providing data from 133 individuals and excluding those failing to criteria of this study. RESULTS: The meta-analysis showed that physical activity intervention had a rather small effect sizes of 0.36 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.59) on cognition performance in subject with dementia. Outcome measurement were MMSE-K (Mini-mental state examination Korean version) and LOCTA (Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment). We found heterogeneous among studies and there was difference between the studies (Q = 19.63, d(f)=12, $I^2= 38.88$). CONCLUSION: The present analysis suggests that physical activity interventions have the low effect sizes on cognition performance in subject with dementia Further studies will be required to develop the various programs for improving the cognitive performance in subject with dementia.